Leeds United defender Rasmus Kristensen has been left out of Denmark's squad by national team coach Kasper Hjulmand for their upcoming European Championship qualifiers.
Kristensen has started 13 of Leeds' 26 Premier League matches this term, yet he has failed to make a Whites starting XI in the top-flight in 2023. Luke Ayling has cemented his place in the first-team ahead of the Dane and that has now cost the 25-year-old a spot in his national side's squad for the impending international break.
Denmark take on Finland and Kazakhstan later this month in their two European Championship qualifying matches. And despite playing all three of his nation's World Cup games in Qatar, his recent hiatus from Leeds action has now seen him miss out on their latest 23-man squad.
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It now means it will be the first time in 13 international matches that Kristensen will not feature for Denmark. Instead, Hjulmand has opted for Atalanta’s Joakim Mæhle and FC Copenhagen's Elias Jelert as his alternative options at right-back.
Javi Gracia did hand Kristensen a 90-minute run out during Leeds' 2-0 defeat to Fulham in the fifth round of the FA Cup. But ultimately his lack of Premier League appearances seem to have cost him the chance at once again representing his country.
Despite being given a tough time by Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma during the 2-2 draw last weekend, Ayling's fine performances of late have meant that Kristensen has been kept at arm's length in the Whites' starting XI since the start of the calendar year. An injury to Max Wober at Everton saw him replace the Austrian at half-time, his only Premier League minutes since New Year's Eve.
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