December 23, 2024
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Victor Kristiansen battles with Lamine Yamal during Denmark's 1-0 defeat to Spain

Leicester City star sent home early from international duty.

In a boost to City, the Dane will get a break before the trip to Southampton this weekend after interim boss Lars Knudsen made the decision to send him back to the club early.

Victor Kristiansen should be well rested ahead of Leicester City’s trip to Southampton this Saturday (3pm kick-off) with the left-back granted an early return from international duty.

Victor Kristiansen battles with Lamine Yamal during Denmark's 1-0 defeat to Spain

Kristiansen, Steve Cooper’s first-choice on the left side of defence so far this season, has been sent home by Denmark’s interim boss Lars Knudsen following the 1-0 Nations League defeat to Spain on Saturday evening. Kristiansen was booked in the match and is therefore suspended for Tuesday’s game against Switzerland. Rather than keep him around, Knudsen is ensuring the player gets a break.

Victor Kristiansen battles with Lamine Yamal during Denmark's 1-0 defeat to Spain

“They (Kristiansen and fellow suspended player Morten Hjulmand) travel home, get some rest and get ready for what awaits in their clubs,” Knudsen, the former City set-piece coach, said. “In a program where there are a lot of matches and pressure, I think it’s good for them to have a mental break once in a while.

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Victor Kristiansen battles with Lamine Yamal during Denmark's 1-0 defeat to Spain

“They probably have to deal with the physical, but mentally it’s really healthy to get a breather. It’s good for them to have a break.”

The City defender had a tough outing on Saturday, playing 90 minutes at wing-back and facing perhaps the game’s most talented teenager in Lamine Yamal. Reports from Denmark suggested Kristiansen struggled, but he did put in a few crunching challenges on the Barcelona winger, letting him know he was in for a difficult evening too.

Victor Kristiansen battles with Lamine Yamal during Denmark's 1-0 defeat to Spain

Kristiansen said: “It’s just going up and saying: ‘Hey, I’m in the fight too. I’m not afraid of you.’ You may have a tendency to back off a player like that a lot, but when you get the opportunity to make a good fair duel that might hurt a little, then it’s about seizing it.

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