Schmeichel to follow in father’s footsteps

KEEPER SET TO PULL ON GLOVES FOR DENMARK

Kasper Schmeichel has been a stalwart at Leicester City and his contribution in goal helped the Foxes to the Premier League title back in 2016. It was with the assistance of Schmeichel that Denmark booked their spot at the 2018 World Cup following an impressive 5-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland.

Should Schmeichel feature in Russia, it would be the first time in his career that he has played at the finals of a major tournament for his nation. The Leicester City vice-captain, though, missed the last five games of the Premier League season with an ankle injury.

Giving him competition is Jonas Lossl who did well for Huddersfield Town in a goalless draw against Manchester United towards the closing stages of the Premier League as he tries to follow in the footsteps of his idol Peter Schmeichel, father of Kasper, at Old Trafford. Lossl says he wants to “continue his good form this season and also to show I am ready”.

With my son in there it is going to be more emotional than any other game he plays because it is a World Cup.”

Peter Schmeichel | Father of Kasper

Schmeichel ready

Schmeichel himself has revealed he is now ready and not overawed by his father’s reputation growing up. “There was a point in my life where I had enough of football. You couldn’t go anywhere, really, with my dad and the circus around football became too much for me.”

Schmeichel began his career at Manchester City before moving to Leeds via Notts County and a host of clubs on loan. But since his move to the Midlands in 2011, the 31-year-old has propelled himself into the top bracket of goalkeepers in the English top flight.

So much so that former Liverpool star Tony Warner has suggested to Jurgen Klopp that Schmeichel is his choice in the search for a consistent goalkeeper at Anfield after not being entirely satisfied with Simon Mignolet or Loris Karius.

“His distribution is brilliant and he has that nice blend of arrogance/confidence about him. If Jurgen Klopp is going to sign another keeper, then it has to be a real No 1. I think a keeper who would push us on is Schmeichel.”

So it will only be a question of how Schmeichel Jr copes in the race to fitness when the squad is whittled down from 35 to 23, following friendlies against Sweden and Mexico.

My main mission is to put on the best show, to take in the form from this good season and to push Kasper.”

Jonas Lossl | Denmark goalkeeper