Source: Northern_Echo
Lovenkrands faces World Cup quandary
CHRIS Hughton has tipped inform Newcastle striker Peter Lovenkrands to be a surprise inclusion in the Denmark squad for this summer's World Cup finals.[LNB] But after a difficult year in which he lost his father, Bent, to leukaemia, Lovenkrands has hinted he may turn down a place in South Africa.[LNB] Lovenkrands, who won the last of his 21 international caps in a World Cup qualifying victory over Portugal in September 2008, has been in scintillating form recently, scoring six goals in his last five outings for the Magpies.[LNB] His performances have alerted Denmark boss Morten Olsen, who is due to name a provisional World Cup squad in less than two months.[LNB] Sources in Scandinavia claim Olsen is considering a recall for the 30-year-old, and Hughton is happy to add his voice to growing calls for Lovenkrands' inclusion.[LNB] If I look at what Peter's done, and the goals he's scored for us, of course he's given them (the Danish management) a massive reminder of what he can do, said the Newcastle boss, ahead of this afternoon's Championship game at Bristol City.[LNB] We haven't had any contact from Denmark. What they do is they send out a preliminary squad, as some of the other nations do. He generally makes the preliminary squad but when it comes down to a tighter squad, he hasn't been in it. In the bigger picture, he's in their thoughts.[LNB] I look at him and (Fabricio) Coloccini and I would desperately love both of them to go to the World Cup. With their form at club level, they've done themselves no harm.[LNB] However, Lovenkrands has hinted he may turn down a World Cup place in order to spend more time with his family in Denmark.[LNB] The striker returned to his homeland after his father died in January, but the intensity of the Championship schedule means he has been unable to make another visit since.[LNB] Should Morten Olsen take me to the World Cup squad, I will probably have to say no,[LNB] said Lovenkrands, who is a doubt for this afternoon's game at Ashton Gate because of an ankle injury sustained in the latter stages of Wednesday's win over Scunthorpe.[LNB] I have made up my mind that it would not be manageable to be involved in the state I'm in right now. It's been a crazy time, since my father died in January.[LNB] I have had it really hard personally, but at the same time it's been fantastic on the pitch.[LNB] I've probably recognised that I need some time to be with my closest. I will have to prioritise.[LNB] Lovenkrands' clinical finish on Wednesday night was his 14th goal of the season, an impressive tally given that he did not open his account until the end of November. After struggling to hold down a starting spot in the opening three months of the season, the former Rangers striker has become a fixture alongside Andy Carroll.[LNB] The pair have formed a successful partnership in the last month, and Hughton feels Lovenkrands has benefited from an extended run at centre- forward rather than being shuffled on to the right of midfield, as was happening earlier in the campaign.[LNB] The biggest difference is that Peter's playing regularly and up front, he said. When I brought him in it was because I knew he could play a few positions.[LNB] I didn't specifically look at him as an out-and-out front player. I knew he could equally play in the left, which he had done for us at times last season and he provides good cover for Jonas (Gutierrez), and on the right-hand side.[LNB] He is playing regularly in a team providing him with chances, and I think it would be fair to say he's been a bonus for us. Did I see him playing as many games for us as he has done up front Probably, the answer is no.[LNB] Some of Lovenkrands' team-mates have had to content themselves with a place on the bench.[LNB] The likes of Nicky Butt and Ryan Taylor have been unable to establish themselves in Hughton's preferred XI, but the boss insists they remain important squad members.[LNB] The likes of Ryan and Nicky have made really big contributions this season, he said. Ryan hasn't played as many games as he would have liked of late, but it's important not to forget about the likes of him and Nicky.[LNB]
