PETER Løvenkrands has been handed further motivation to fire Newcastle United into the Premier League after being told he is still in Denmark’s thinking for the World Cup finals.
Løvenkrands, who is still mourning the death of his father Bent, is back in contention for Friday’s promotion six-pointer against Cardiff City and has been offered encouragement by the Danish national team management about his chances of forcing his way into their plans for South Africa.
The 30-year-old has not represented his country since coming off the bench in a 4-0 defeat of Liechtenstein in September 2007, but is one of around 50 players being monitored by national team manager Morten Olsen.
In an interview with Danish sports paper Tipsbladet, assistant manager Peter Bonde singled Løvenkrands out as one of the players whose form would be watched closely in the run-up to South Africa. Although still an outside chance at the moment, Lovenkrands has been in excellent form recently for United – notching a hat-trick to see off Plymouth in the FA Cup before scoring an emotional equaliser against West Brom a few days after the loss of his father.
And Bonde confirmed that maintaining that track record could see him make the World Cup squad. “You never know when a player will hit form,” he said. “If Peter Løvenkrands, as an example, scores three goals every time he plays for Newcastle it is something we can't overlook.
“It is a sign that a player is on to something – that can change the plans.”
Lovenkrands was not involved at all in Denmark’s qualification campaign, which saw them impressively top a group including Sweden and Portugal. But he was part of the 2002 squad that
saw its tournament ended by England, and was in the squad for Euro 2004. Denmark face Holland, Japan and Cameroon in South Africa.
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