Denmark Boss Discusses Mikkel Damsgaard's 'Bigger Injury' Before Wales

Mikkel Damsgaard will miss Denmark’s game against Wales after the injury he suffered against Portugal proved worse than initially hoped.

The Brentford midfielder limped off towards the end of Thursday’s 4-2 defeat and has since left the Denmark squad, with Mathias Kvistgaarden brought in ahead of the trip to Cardiff.

Brian Riemer provided more detail on Wednesday evening about the decision to send Damsgaard home.

“It is a blow, which has turned out to be a bigger injury. That means we have called up Mathias Kvistgaarden from Norwich, who arrives later today.”

Damsgaard had been hopeful immediately after the Portugal game that the problem would not prove serious.

He described rolling his ankle and said he needed to find out more after being substituted in the closing stages. Still, Denmark’s assessment over the following two days ruled out any involvement against Wales.

That is as far as Riemer went when discussing the injury, only confirming that Damsgaard would not be ready for Denmark’s final match of the international break.

Nikolas Nartey has also been ruled out, leaving Riemer without two members of the squad he originally selected.

“It is, of course, the end of an extremely intense period. Unfortunately, we have had to establish that both Nikolas Nartey and Mikkel Damsgaard will not be ready for the match. And that has also meant that we have had to call up an extra player in the form of Kvistgaarden.”

Damsgaard’s absence brings an early end to an international break in which he had again been heavily involved for Denmark.

He scored in the defeat to Portugal and created Rasmus Højlund’s goal later in the game, continuing a run of productive performances under Riemer. Damsgaard had also scored against Norway earlier in the Nations League campaign and was at the heart of both goals when Denmark beat Wales 2-0 in September.

His place in the Denmark side has become increasingly established over the past year.

The same has been true at Brentford, where Damsgaard has moved between different midfield roles rather than being used in one fixed position. He returned to Keith Andrews’ Premier League starting XI against Chelsea before joining up with the national team.

That Chelsea game was also one of Damsgaard’s more influential performances of the season. His corner led to Jaidon Anthony opening the scoring, while he later released Kevin Schade behind the Chelsea defence before Igor Thiago converted the rebound for Brentford’s second.

It continued the creative role Damsgaard has developed at Brentford over the past couple of seasons, while his recent Denmark performances showed the same influence carrying into international football.

The Portugal game was another example before his night ended early. Damsgaard had already scored and created a goal by the time he was forced off, and he was also heavily involved in the previous wins over Norway and Wales.

He will not get the chance to continue that run in Cardiff.

Damsgaard’s international break is over and he will now return to Brentford, where the injury can be assessed by the club’s medical staff.