Denmark international boss has sympathy for Christian Eriksen situation at Manchester United

With the European Championships now only a month away, could you really blame those Manchester United players if they are counting down the minutes until the merciful end of a miserable club campaign with the prospect of international glory on the horizon?

Ending England’s long trophy drought and forcing a hasty Three Lions re-write Kobbie Mainoo would be a dream ending to a fine breakthrough season for the Old Trafford wonderkid.

Mainoo, so impressive during those March friendlies with Brazil and Belgium, has surely gone a long way to earning himself a seat on the plane to Germany.

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, may represent Portugal’s best hope of replicating their success of 2016 alongside Diogo Dalot.

And you could have heard the sigh of relief from all the way in England’s north west when the injury which appeared to put Scott McTominay‘s Scotland involvement in doubt turned out not to be as serious as initially feared.

Scotland, boasting arguably their finest squad in generations, will be taking inspiration from previous ‘dark horses’ ahead of June’s curtain-raiser with Julian Nagelsmann’s hosts.

‘Dark horses’ such as Denmark. The nation which came within a Harry Kane penalty of reaching the final of the previous tournament back in 2021.

Manchester United stars preparing for Euro 2024

Kasper Hjulmand’s side are hardly in an ideal position only a few weeks out from the tournament’s beginning, however. A number of key players are struggling for minutes and form at club level.

Christian Eriksen looks a shambling shadow of his once-brilliant best under Erik ten Hag, despite finding minutes a little easier to come by of late, while Rasmus Hojlund has only one goal in ten games since breaking a Premier League record back in February.

Hjulmand, however, insists that he is losing no sleep, even if he would have to accept that neither Eriksen nor Hojlund are heading to Germany in peak condition.

“I’m not too worried. I am very happy that Christian has been playing a few minutes lately,” the former Mainz boss tells Ekstra Bladet. “It is extremely difficult to shine in a team that struggles to make the connection work.

“We know in this world that things can quickly go the other way. I am glad that they are both in very good condition.

“So, in that way, I’m not too worried about those two.”

Eriksen and Hojlund central to Denmark’s hopes

Eriksen, who is expected to fall victim of a brutal Ineos cull this summer, has seen his place in the Denmark squad called into question of late back home. Hjulmand, however, never had any intention of moving on from one of his most experienced players.

Hojlund, meanwhile, boasts a formidable record at international level. Including that scintillating hat-trick over Scandinavian rivals Finland, Hojlund ended the European Championship qualification campaign with seven goals in just eight matches.

“I really like Hojlund,” legendary Man United striker Wayne Rooney told Sky Sports on Sunday.

“What I like about him is he is always in a position and always gets chances. He has not always taken them, he has missed chances, but I think for a forward, all you can ask is get in the right positions.

“If you are getting chances, more often than not, you will take them. If he keeps putting himself in the right positions, I think he will be a very good player for them in the next few years.”