PER Frandsen's hopes of an international recall may have to go on hold because Denmark's national boss can't get round to seeing him play.

Bo Johansson had hinted he may consider 26-year-old Frandsen and his Bolton Wanderers team-mate Michael Johansen (23) for a friendly against France in Copenhagen on November 9.

But the only English football he has seen is at Premier League level and he admits: "The fact they are playing in the second best league in England is a fundamental problem. If they were in the Premier it might be different.

"I am always happy to hear good news about Danish players abroad but I have never seen a Division One game and before I can consider Frandsen or anyone else as a candidate I must see him first. That will be difficult before the next game but I plan to see Bolton play before the end of the year."

That said, Johansson, who took charge after Euro 96, has picked Ipswich Town's Claus Thomsen in midfield for Denmark's two World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Greece, which both ended in victory. But the performances have been unimpressive and Burnden boss Colin Todd says Denmark cannot afford to ignore Frandsen as they try to stay ahead of the World Cup field.

He reckons: "From what I have seen, Per certainly deserves to be in the squad, if not in the starting line-up."

Todd was in Copenhagen last week to see the Danes beat Greece 2-1 and believes the in-form Frandsen, capped three times, could significantly strengthen their midfield at the expense of either Thomsen or Spurs midfielder Allan Nielsen.

The balance appeared to have tipped in Frandsen's favour with the new national boss electing to abandon the 3-5-2 system in favour of 4-4-2, to which his midfield game seems ideally suited, judging by his outstanding form since he and Michael Johansen joined Wanderers from FC Copenhagen in the summer.

Todd accepts that if Bo Johansson takes his advice, Frandsen will be added to the growing list of internationals he could lose at some point of the season - unless he gets three called up at one time and exercises his right to postpone games.

Nevertheless, he is still prepared to trumpet Frandsen's cause. "He's been capped before and, in the form he has shown since coming to Bolton, he should be in that side.

"International calls are likely to cause us problems but I see it as a sign of a team that is doing well."

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