“It’s the worst-case scenario” – Super Eagles star out for the rest of the season with knee injury

The Nigeria international had been one of the Bluebirds’ finest performers in the early stages of the league campaign

Cardiff City have confirmed that Super Eagles defender Jamilu Collins has suffered an injury that will keep him out of action for the rest of the season.

It is a devastating blow for Collins, who has been excellent for Cardiff since moving to Wales in the summer.

The fullback quit German 2.Bundesliga side Paderborn to join Cardiff City on a free transfer and had been brilliant in his first three Championship appearances.

Collins picked up the man-of-the-match award on his debut in the 1-0 home win over Norwich City on July 30.

The 28-year-old was equally impressive in Cardiff’s 2-1 defeat at Reading and the subsequent 1-0 triumph over Birmingham City.

However, Collins only lasted nine minutes in the matchday four clash at West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night.

The left-back injured his knee while attempting to dismiss Darnell Furlong and had to be helped out of the pitch.

And Cardiff City boss Steve Morison has confirmed that Collins is out until next year.

The English manager revealed that the Nigeria international ruptured his ACL and will require surgery.

“We won’t see him again until next season,” Morison said of the Nigeria international. “It’s gutting for the lad. Really gutting. We are all here for him. We are going to make the next year the best it can possibly be for him.

“It’s the worst-case scenario. We will try and get him back for pre-season next year. One thing we do know is we will have one hell of a left-back next season.”

EFL Championship’s best left-back

Morison has been impressed with Collins’ performances and attitudes on and off the pitch since he switched from Germany.

The tactician even described the former Rijeka ace as the best left-back in the Championship

And the Cardiff City coach does not doubt that Collins will receive the necessary support to get him back on his feet.

Morison said, “On a plus-point for him, his family has just moved over and he has his family with him now. The lads will get behind him; he will be around. I’m sure you’ll see his smiling face around the place. We have something else to fight for now.

“He is a great kid; he comes in with a smile on his face every day. He loved working every day with us and we loved working with him. He is someone you want around. He is infectious. As soon as he has his operation and he’s a bit more mobile, he will be around the lads.”

Cardiff coping without Collins

With Collins out, Morison is already considering his options at left-back with over 40 league games left to play in the 2022-2023 Championship campaign.

The manager confessed that It would be hard to replace Collins.

But he is banking on Republic of Ireland Under-21 defender Joel Bagan to step up and deliver, starting with the Severnside derby clash with Bristol City on Sunday afternoon.

“There is a big possibility that Joel might fill in at left-back!” Morison said. “JC [Collins] has been outstanding. He has to be ready and step up in a huge game on Sunday.

“I think it’s wrong for us to sit here and say we were going to rely on Joel for the whole season. JC was an unknown quantity in the Championship, but we knew it would be good to see them go toe to toe with each other.”