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Following on from Brentford’s crucial 2-0 win in a bottom-of-the-table clash against Burnley, Christian Eriksen has been named in Denmark’s squad ahead of upcoming friendlies.
Having played in his second consecutive match for the full 90 minutes, manager Thomas Frank believes the Bees’ new signing was physically ready to make a return for Denmark for the first time since his cardiac arrest during Euro 2020.
While discussing Eriksen’s potential inclusion in the Danish squad earlier this week, Frank stated, “Of course it is up to Kasper (Hjulmand) to decide. Fitness-wise? He (Eriksen) is ready.”
Along with Eriksen, Brentford teammates Christian Nørgaard and Mathias Jensen have also been named in the Danish squad.
Despite having not played in the Premier League since the 2019-20 season, a pair of dominant performances have already proven the difference as Brentford look to be putting the race out of relegation behind them. Securing his first assist for the club since his deadline-day signing last weekend, courtesy of a clean-header from Ivan Toney, Eriksen’s one-year contract with Brentford comes off the back of a pre-existing relationship with Frank.
Thomas Frank managed Eriksen during his time with Denmark U17’s, with Frank recalling that in a 2-1 win against Sweden in July 2008, “After ten minutes, he was on the half-turn, opened up, diagonal pass, right-foot, boof, just like that, on a string. Twenty minutes later, open up, turn forward, left-foot, diagonal pass, just perfect. So, I thought: ‘Okay, this is a pretty good player’.”
With both Frank and Eriksen later moving to London, for Brentford and for Tottenham, the Danish countrymen reportedly stayed in touch. This relationship between the two allows for an ideal environment for Eriksen to return to high-quality football once again.
With Brentford fielding a relatively young side that’s still settling into the Premier League, Eriksen’s experience and class (consisting of over 100 international caps, a runners-up award as the UEFA Midfielder of the Year and 4 Danish Footballer of the Year titles) will no doubt rub-off on the players, both in the dressing-rooms and on the pitch. In a squad featuring 7 Denmark players (with another 2 out on loan) and a manager who he’s worked with before, Eriksen looks to be right back at home in London.
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