Erikonhis wayback toDenmark

DANISH defender Erik Sviatchenko is set for a return to his homeland after agreeing an initial six-month loan deal with FC Midtylland.

The 26-year-old defender has fallen out of the first-team picture at Celtic Park an a move away from the club seemed inevitable this month.

Sviatchenko will return to Midtjylland after the clubs agreed a £200k loan fee, It is believed that a fee of around £1.3m will be

agreed between the clubs should both parties wish to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

The player spoke to the Danish press earlier this month as he spoke of his desire to push his way into the international set-up with a view of making it into the World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament in Russia.

A fringe player for Denmark, Sviatchenko could nevertheless find himself in as cover for the favoured central-defensive pairing, but knows that he needs to be playing to have any chance of inclusion.

Brendan Rodgers delivered the news to Sviatchenko that he was free to find himself another club and it is believed that there were a number of interested clubs willing to take the player, with Copenhagen also keen on the defender.

However, he has regarded a move back to Midtylland as an ideal platform to get game time under his belt.

The Danes called a press conference for this morning, with Sviatchenko expected to be unveiled.