“They are a great club with a great history, so it’s going to be a wonderful challenge for us. We are looking for a reaction from the Aberdeen defeat, but we are going into a different environment and it’s going to be a great challenge for the players.
“We don’t play teams like Ajax every week. They have a lot of new players, doing very well and only lost their first points of the season at the weekend in a 2-2 draw.
“It is another game, another tournament, and I thought we did fairly well in it last season getting out of the group stages, so we want to do exactly the same this season.
“We won’t be favourites, it will be a tough match, but one we feel we can go and win. I’m very excited. You have to look forward to these big games.”
“It is a blow, he’s an experienced player. He’s played in a lot of big games, so we just hope he makes a speedy recovery.”
Mulgrew’s absence could hasten the introduction of new £5.5million signing Jozo Simunovic, who joined from Dinamo Zagreb at the end of the transfer window. Collins revealed he could make his first appearance at the Amsterdam ArenA.
Collins said: “The team has not been picked, but Jozo trained very well and there’s every chance he could get his debut.”
