COLIN Todd believes Per Frandsen's omission from the Denmark squad could be the spur for the Wanderers' midfield driving force to click back into top gear.

Frandsen's form has dipped from his usual sky-high standard in recent weeks and his exclusion from the squad for next Saturday's Euro qualifier against Italy in Copenhagen was more disappointing than surprising.

Denmark coach Bo Johansson, who saw him in action at the Wanderers-Barnsley game, preferred Chelsea's Bjarne Goldbaek but he could get a chance to re-stake his claim next month when the Danes are due to meet South Africa in a friendly.

"Per will be disappointed," Todd agreed, "but he's been included in all the squads over the last couple of seasons and hasn't really been involved all that much. I know he was disappointed not to get more of a run during the World Cup.

"But that happens in football. It might just make him that bit more determined because I know he will want to get back in the international squad."

Wanderers will still have four players on international duty next weekend.

Claus Jensen plays for Denmark U-21s against Italy in Odense on Friday night; Birkir Kristinsson plays for Iceland in Andorra on Saturday and in the Ukraine on Wednesday, March 31; Jussi Jaaskelainen is in the Finland squad for their qualifier in Germany on the 31st and the same night Ricardo Gardner plays for Jamaica in their home friendly against Paraguay.

Kristinsson was genuinely surprised when he heard he was the only player with a "double-header".

"They only have one game to play?" he asked in astonishment. "That doesn't sound fair to me!"

The European call-ups on Thursday finally confirmed the postponement of next Saturday's Bristol City fixture, which Wanderers tried to slot in when both clubs had a free Saturday on January 23.

Re-arranging the match for April 13 has presented Todd with a programme of seven games in 20 days as the season draws to a hectic climax.

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