Jamilu Collins reveals why Cardiff City coach advised him to withdraw from Super Eagles October roster 

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, October 26, Jamilu Collins admitted that he was advised by Cardiff City coach Erol Bulut to withdraw from Nigeria's squad for their October internationals against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. 

Four days before the friendly against Roberto Mancini's team, the Nigeria Football Federation announced that Boavista defender Chidozie Awaziem was drafted in as a replacement for the Bluebirds left-back. 

Collins missed almost the whole of the 2022-2023 campaign due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered that required surgery.

And he was struggling with a hamstring issue in the weeks leading up to the training camp in Portugal. 

Erol Bulut advised the former Paderborn star not to link up with the Nigeria squad so he can fully recover during the international break 

In quotes relayed by Walesonline, Collins told reporters: "Me not going to the national team was for my own self. I’ve been out for a long time and the gaffer told me not to because he wants me to rest due to the issues with my hamstring. I think the advice was the right one for me.

"I just play and if the national team coach is impressed with the performance, he will stick with me."

Collins has not played for the Super Eagles since he was named in the starting lineup to face Guinea-Bissau in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations match on January 19, 2022.

His fitness problems are behind him as he has gone the distance in each of the two matches played by Cardiff City after the international break in October. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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