Last November, Leicester City’s Jannik Vestergaard was called up by Denmark for the first time in 17 months and is also included in the squad for the ongoing international break.
At the weekend, the centre-back played for 90 minutes in 0-0 draw against Switzerland.
Ekstra Bladet state the 31-year-old had a long way back to the national team after going through a difficult phase at Leicester.
This happened last season when former Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers left him out of his plans at the King Power Stadium, and had restricted him to only three appearances in the cup competitions.
Vestergaard’s situation has improved a lot under Enzo Maresca as he’s played 35 matches for Leicester this season. This has also helped him return to the national team squad.
After a nightmare at Leicester, Ekstra Bladet claim Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand is impressed the player is ‘back from the dead’.
The newspaper have also relayed comments made by the national team coach.
“It’s a real pleasure. It’s for him personally, too, after what he’s been through. He’s really seen the dark side of this world and has been at the bottom. So, I’m happy for Jannik and the team that we can use him again,” he said.
On the defender’s difficult phase at Leicester and overcoming it, Hjulmand explained: “I’m insanely happy for Jannik. When you experience things like that, you enjoy it more. He’s been so far away and has been asked to train somewhere else.”
“Jannik is an intelligent guy, and sometimes in this world you realise that it just doesn’t make sense. I mean, what’s going on? This has made it even more complex.”
The manner in which Vestergaard had fought back has also pleased the Denmark coach.
“He fought through it and experienced almost from one day to the next that it changed. He is an extremely important player for Leicester now. It is insanely strong of Jannik that he has fought back. Big credit to him,” he added.
