Lorentzen return lifts Denmark

New Denmark Under-21 coach Keld Bordinggaard can approach his side's UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers next week with confidence given the form of winger Kasper Lorentzen on his return from injury.

All or nothing
Denmark play Group 11 rivals F.Y.R. Macedonia on 2 September and Sweden three days later as Bordinggaard targets the play-offs from the qualifying round. It is a tough test for the coach, who has had just one friendly to prepare his players since replacing Flemming Serritslev on 1 July. However, Lorentzen's superb display in Brøndby IF's 4-0 UEFA Cup victory against FC Flora last Thursday gives cause for optimism.

'Happy'
Lorentzen, 20, ran through the Estonian club's defence for a superb solo goal, impressing Bordinggaard in the process. "I'm particularly pleased to welcome Kasper Lorentzen back into the squad," he said. "His outstanding abilities will give us fresh attacking options." The fleet-of-foot Lorentzen, a Brøndby player since the age of ten, has eleven U21 caps. His return is timely after Nicklas Bendtner, Rasmus Würtz, Daniel Agger and Thomas Kahlenberg were promoted to the senior squad. All four were key players in Denmark's U21 finals campaign in Portugal in May, a tournament for which Lorentzen was sidelined.

Fresh faces
The 43-year-old Bordinggaard, formerly assistant to Denmark coach Morten Olsen, has also called up Thomas Kortegaard from Aalborg BK and Silkeborg IF's Martin Ørnskov as he seeks to improve on a 3-2 friendly defeat by Switzerland in his first outing.