Kjaer included in Denmark World Cup squad

(GSM) – Denmark’s Injured centre back Simon Kjaer has been included in their final 23-man squad for the World Cup finals.

The 21-year-old defender was stretchered off with suspected knee ligament damage after a collision with Mame Biram Diouf during Denmark’s 2-0 friendly win against Senegal on Thursday.

The Palermo defender would be boss Morten Olsen’s first choice to partner Liverpool’s Daniel Agger in central defence should he be fit.

“It’s really miserable,” Denmark coach Morten Olsen said.

Team doctor Soren Kaalund revealed Kjaer is able to walk, but tests will be carried out in the coming days to ascertain the extent of the injury and he may miss their first match with Netherlands on June 14.

“He has had an impact on the side of the ligament, a knee injury,” the team doctor told local news agency Ritzau.

“He seems stable and we are reasonably confident but if there is major damage then it’s something that takes a long time. We will evaluate it and he will have a scan,” the doctor explained.

Olsen has cut Michael Silberbauer, Morten Rasmussen, Kim Christensen and Michael Krohn-Delhi from his preliminary squad.

“We have picked the squad that we believe is the best and some had unfortunately to stay home,” Olsen said about their final 23-man squad for the World Cup finals.

Goalkeepers: Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (Copenhagen), Thomas Sorensen, (Stoke)

Defenders: Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn), William Kvist Jorgensen (Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Simon Busk Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar)

Midfielders: Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Thomas Enevoldsen (Groningen), Christian D. Eriksen (Ajax), Jesper Gronkjaer (Copenhagen), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Martin Jorgensen (Aarhus), Thomas Kahlenberg (Wolfsburg), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax).

Forwards: Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (Duisburg)