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The football calendar hardly ever pauses and international windows always seem to crop up at the most inconvenient times for clubs and players.
As everything nears its final stretch, managers are weighing risk against reward more and more.
Over the next few weeks, one young defender’s future could be set in stone.
Denmark’s head coach Brian Riemer has not completely ruled out a potential for international return for Patrick Dorgu.
The 21-year-old has been fighting to return from a serious hamstring injury sustained at the end of January, which initially looked set to keep him out until mid-March.
The scans said he might be out for ten weeks, but more recent updates have suggested that United are being careful because there may be a chance of a setback.
That timeline seemed to automatically knock him out of Denmark’s World Cup qualification play-off semi-final against North Macedonia on 26 March.
If Denmark overcomes North Macedonia, the European Championship winners will face either Czechia or the Republic of Ireland in a final on 31 March.
However, speaking to Viaplay and quoted by Tipsbladet, Riemer made it clear that he is still clinging onto hope.
“Right now, he is reported injured by Manchester United, and he is until April,” Riemer said.
“I know that Patrick has a dream of being ready.
“I think his biggest motivation right now, when he is running around in that training room, is that he wants to battle everyone and then be ready for that match.
“I’ll only help him keep that dream alive as long as the opportunity exists.”
Any involvement for Denmark would almost certainly require Patrick Dorgu to return to competitive action for United first, hinting at a comeback before the end of March.
After nearly two months out, that remains an ambitious target, but one the player himself appears fully committed to chasing.
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