CELTIC’S on-fire midfielder Matt O’Riley is hoping to make his debut for Denmark on Tuesday after answering an SOS to join the squad.
The 22-year-old Londoner was surprisingly overlooked by manager Kasper Hjulmand for his 23-man pool for the Euro 24 double-header against Kazakhstan and San Marino.
The Hoops playmaker has already scored five goals in 11 appearances for the champions this season after an excellent start to the campaign.
WALKING ON AIR…Matt O’Riley takes off as he scores Celtic’s stoppage-time winner against Motherwell at Fir Park.
O’Riley was given the overdue good news shortly after he had watched his adopted nation beat Kazakhstan 3-1 in Copenhagen last night.
Boss Hjulmand faced the prospect of bringing in the Celt when it appeared he would lose Anderlecht striker Kasper Dolberg for the match in San Marino on Tuesday night.
Afterwards the Danish FA released a statement which read: “Kasper Dolberg travels home to Belgium so he can be with his newborn twins and his girlfriend.
“National coach Kasper Hjulmand decided together with Dolberg that he should go home after the Kazakhstan game to be with his family.
“He will be replaced by Matt O’Riley.”
ON THE BALL…Matt O’Riley in action for the Danish Under-21 side last season.
O’Riley has been capped four times by the Danish Under-21s, but this is his first step up to the senior squad which is a deserved reward for his overall performances for the champions since the start of the campaign.
Denmark are joint top of the Group H qualifying table alongside Slovenia on 16 points with three games to play.
Finland are poised on 12 points while Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching the soccer showpiece in Germany next summer could rely on a play-off. Kazakhstan and San Marino have already been eliminated.
