Denmark’s loss is Leeds United's gain and while Jesse Marsch wanted all of his internationals to go as far as possible, there is no doubting the benefit of Wednesday’s results. The Danes’ loss to Australia and subsequent World Cup elimination means, in short, Rasmus Kristensen’s coming home sooner.
The 25-year-old started each of his country’s three group games against Tunisia, France and Australia. There had been 10 days between the Tottenham Hotspur loss and his first tournament match, but games then followed at four-day intervals.
The assumption is Kristensen will now get the same kind of rest his non-World Cup Leeds team-mates had while he was heading to Qatar. After one full week of total rest, Marsch said his squad were given a week-long programme to do at home before then returning to Thorp Arch for testing on November 28.
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That could mean Kristensen only starts his individual programme around the time Leeds play Elche in Spain. The Dane would then report back for testing shortly before the Real Sociedad friendly at Elland Road.
If Leeds can confirm another friendly in the week commencing December 19, that might then be an opportunity for the right-back to play again before Manchester City visit. Missing the two La Liga friendlies would, of course, open the door for Luke Ayling to get a valuable audition in Marsch's system too.
The other benefit for the Whites is they now take charge of Kristensen’s programme and intensity. There was always the risk, the further Denmark went, the greater chance of Kristensen breaking down with injury.
As it is, the former Red Bull Salzburg defender seems to have come through all three matches unscathed and Marsch can breathe a sigh of relief. United’s first-choice right-back has only missed one match through injury this season.
Cody Drameh started at Brentford while Kristensen watched from the sidelines, though Marsch did rotate the Dane to the bench against Fulham, three days after that midweek Leicester City loss. After a shaky start to the season, Kristensen has adapted and improved in the Premier League.
The trip to Crystal Palace, where he so ably dealt with Wilfried Zaha, was a watershed moment for Kristensen. Ayling was considered a strong bet to supplant the Dane for a few weeks, but all of that talk has faded away for now.
The number 25 was impressive in the surprising win at Anfield too, on another night his stock rose. He will now go away and lick his World Cup wounds, but thankfully return to Leeds custody in good health next month.
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