Celtic’s Matt O’Riley may have missed out on Danish call-up for their Euro 2024 qualifiers, but he’s on a fast track to the top.

While the Danish midfield is currently adorned by stars such as Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Mathias Jensen, and Christian Norgaard, who are all showcasing their skills in the Premier League week in and week out.

Peter Kjaer, a former Aberdeen keeper turned football pundit for Danish TV, expressed his admiration for O’Riley’s performances at Celtic, emphasising his surprise at the midfielder’s omission from Denmark’s national squad.

According to Kjaer, given O’Riley’s current trajectory and the pressure-cooker environment he faces playing for Celtic, especially in tournaments like the Champions League, it’s only a matter of time before he gets his deserving call-up.

Since his move from MK Dons, O’Riley has rapidly risen through the ranks at Celtic. Under the guidance of manager Brendan Rodgers, he has found the back of the net five times in just 11 games this season. Such stats, combined with his obvious talent, make it evident that O’Riley is knocking hard on the doors of Denmark’s senior team.

Highlighting the depth and quality of Denmark’s midfield, Kjaer pointed out that while O’Riley’s talent is undeniable, he’s up against some stiff competition. However, he’s optimistic that O’Riley’s consistent performances will soon earn him a place in the national setup.

“Of course, it’s tough for O’Riley to break in when you look at the names already there,” Kjaer said to RecordSport.

“You have Eriksen, Hjobjerg, then Jensen and Norgaard at Brentford, and Lindstrom at Napoli. But he’ll do it one day because he’s young and playing for a top team. He’s making a real mark at Celtic.

“It’s just a matter of time. I think in a few games’ time or the next friendly he’ll be in there. I’ve seen O’Riley play, he’s a top player. I know the national coach also thinks he’s great. He spoke about him before the 2022 World Cup so he’s been following him.

“I thought he’d be in the squad this time. But if you see the midfielders Denmark have, it’s a very decent list. They’re playing for some good clubs at a high level.

“When Philip Billing of Bournemouth withdrew from the squad injured, I thought it might be O’Riley’s chance. But Hjulmand called up Kasper Dolberg from Anderlecht, who is a striker.

“The coach wants to be offensive in these games but O’Riley must have been close. People in Denmark are talking about him. They know about him and they’re excited. I’ve spoken to football people who felt he would be in this squad. But he’s up against some top midfielders. So he has to be aware of that. But he has a talent and is very skillful – so his time will come for Denmark.”