Patrick Dorgu is pushing to return from injury ahead of schedule, reveals Denmark boss Brian Riemer ahead of crunch World Cup qualifying play-offs.
The 21-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in Manchester United’s Premier League win at Arsenal last month.
The Dane had scored in that match and within the win over Manchester City within the previous outing, showing great form in a more advanced position under interim manager Michael Carrick.
It was an enormous disappointment for the player to tug up when he did, with the hamstring issue considered serious enough to sideline him for no less than two months.
Dorgu is actually not returning just yet, but Riemer has suggested there may be a likelihood he might be involved in Denmark’s World Cup play-off fixtures.
Denmark tackle North Macedonia on March 26 in Copenhagen, before facing either Republic of Ireland or Czech Republic for a spot on the World Cup this summer.
‘Immediately he’s reported injured by Manchester United, and he’s until April. I do know that Patrick has a dream to be ready,’ Riemer told ViaPlay of Dorgu’s hopes to be involved for his country.
Your football fix
Metro‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy evaluation, transfer talk and his tackle the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.
Join here, it’s an open goal.
‘I feel his biggest motivation right away, when he’s running around in that training room, is that he desires to beat the crap out of us all after which be ready for that game.’
He added: ‘I’ll only help him keep that dream alive so long as the chance exists.’
Explaining the extent of the injury in January, Carrick said: ‘Pat, unfortunately, he’s going to be out for a time frame. We’re still working through how long that’s going to be.
‘We’ll need to see, [it’s] disappointing, he’s had such a giant couple of weeks, Pat. We weren’t sure whether it was just a little little bit of cramp or whether it was something just a little bit more serious and in the mean time it looks just a little bit more on the intense note.
‘So, it’ll be a number of weeks for that. What number of weeks? We’ll need to wait and see. So, that’s disappointing for all of us really, and for Pat, he’s in such a superb place, but unfortunately it is a component of football and it’s something we’ve started working through and get him back as soon as we will.’
Manchester United have looked in fine condition without Dorgu, with Matheus Cunha stepping in to the left-wing position ably.
The Red Devils’ other injured players are Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt, with all closing in on returns.
Manchester United host Crystal Palace on Sunday, with each Mount and Martinez having a likelihood to return to the squad, but De Ligt is predicted back later in March.
MORE: Paul Merson’s Premier League predictions, including Arsenal v Chelsea and Man Utd v Crystal Palace
MORE: Man Utd and Chelsea goal Elliot Anderson speaks out on transfer links
MORE: Give him the job? Juan Mata sends Michael Carrick message to Man Utd