 Medics treated Sorensen at Stamford Bridge before he was taken off |
Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is confident he will be fit for Denmark's World Cup campaign, despite dislocating his right elbow in Stoke's 7-0 defeat at Chelsea. The 33-year-old was taken to hospital after a clash with Salomon Kalou on Sunday but did not require surgery to put the joint back in place. "Fortunately, it was only a dislocation and there was no lasting damage when it was put back in place," said Sorensen. "It will be a race against time but I do believe I can make the World Cup." Sorensen, who had a long spell out in 2002 after dislocating his elbow playing for Sunderland, will miss Stoke's remaining three Premier League games this season, against Everton, Fulham and Manchester United.  | 606: DEBATE LiverpoolDundeeSouthamptonMad |
"I am as upbeat as I can be in this situation - at least I am left with some hope of making the World Cup since the injury is not as bad as feared," he added. "I am glad that I don't have to have my elbow put back in place every day because I was in severe pain and I did wonder if my dream had been shattered." Sorensen sustained his dislocation when Kalou slid in to score his second goal at Stamford Bridge and the Dane was critical of the Ivory Coast star. "It was a reckless challenge," complained Sorensen. "I know the ball was loose but the way he threw himself into the situation with studs up was not okay." Sorensen is Denmark's first-choice keeper, with 85 caps, and his understudy is the uncapped Kim Christensen of IFK Gothenburg. If Christensen is forced to step up as first choice, that could open up a place in the squad for Notts County's Kasper Schmeichel, who is his country's regular under-21 goalkeeper. Denmark, whose last major international tournament was Euro 2004, finished top of their World Cup qualifying group, ahead of Portugal and Sweden, with only one defeat in 10 matches. They have been drawn in Group E in South Africa, alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Cameroon, with their opening game being against the Dutch on 14 June. Sorensen was replaced at Stamford Bridge by Asmir Begovic, who joined Stoke from Portsmouth in February.
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