Sweden frustrated with peripheral role

SWEDEN coach Janne Andersson admits Victor Lindelof’s peripheral status at Manchester United is ‘frustrating’ as the national team attempts to qualify for the World Cup.

Lindelof, 23, is yet to make his Premier League debut for United and has been included in only one of United’s six matchday squads.

United manager Jose Mourinho started Lindelof in the Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid, as well as the Champions League opener against Basel and Carabao Cup win over Burton Albion, but admitted the Real tie was ‘too early’ for the Benfica central defender.

Lindelof did not travel to Southampton at the weekend and is set to return to the United squad against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night, but Chris Smalling is expected to replace Phil Jones.

“It’s a frustrating thing in this job, I cannot influence anything,” Andersson told P5 Sthlm radio. “It is clear that over time, I want all our players to play as much as possible, at as high a level as possible.

“So over time it’s a little unfortunate.

“But we’ll see, he has played some matches.

“We hope that he will be even closer to the team.”

Sweden are a point behind Group A leaders France and host Luxembourg before travelling to the Netherlands for their remaining World Cup qualifiers next month.