Schmeichel impresses Denmark coach

Manchester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is in line for his first international call-up after impressing Denmark Under-18 boss Hans Brun Larsen.

The 17-year-old son of former City and legendary United keeper Peter has earned rave reviews for his performances in the Blues’ reserves and youth team.

“We have seen Kasper at Manchester City, and it’s not impossible that we could call him home to play in the under-18 national team,” said Larsen.

The career of Schmeichel senior ended at City last summer, when he quit the game at the age of 39. He won more than 100 caps for Denmark, and was a member of their victorious European Championship team in 1992.

While in his prime at Manchester United, Schmeichel won five league titles as well as FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League honours. He also played for Brondby, Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon.

Larsen told Danish newspaper BT that he had been impressed by the eenage Schmeichel, but he resisted making the comparison between father and son.

“I know many will,” he recognised.

“One could say that Kasper doesn’t shout and give the same amount of instructions as his father did.

“On the other hand he looks more fit than Peter did in his last active years, and he looks to be built in the same way.”

The teenage Schmeichel only turned 17 in November, and he has been on the fringes of the City first-team squad all season.

“I think it’s hard to say anything about his playing personality yet,” said Larsen.

“But it looks good, and a man who in the circle around Manchester City’s first team at age 16 can’t be all that bad.”

Denmark Under-18s’ next fixture pits them against Slovakia in mid-March, and they also have a training session scheduled for March 1-2.