PER Frandsen has been rewarded for his storming start in the Premiership by winning his place back in Denmark's World Cup squad.

The Wanderers' midfielder was yesterday named in a squad of 25 for the qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Bulgaria and is expected to keep his place when the party is trimmed to around 20 at the weekend.

Frandsen, who was in the Denmark squad in France 98 but was out of the international picture last season, is delighted with his recall.

"It's always nice to be involved in international football," he said. "I've been happy with my form but we are all happy. When the team is playing well, you play well yourself."

Denmark's national coach, Morten Olsen, and his assistant, Michael Laudrup, are aware of how well Frandsen has started the season and with his former Bolton team-mate, Claus Jensen, currently out of the Charlton team with an injury, they see the experienced Wanderer as an ideal midfield replacement and free-kick specialist.

Frandsen has been in outstanding form in Wanderers' stunning start to the season, which continued with a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Reebok last night, following on from their spectacular 5-0 opening day win at Leicester.

They currently top the table with maximum points but survival remains the name of the game.

"We're only two games in," Frandsen reacted to the suggestion that Wanderers might be developing lofty aspirations. "Our aim is just to stay up and to surprise a few teams.

"If you'd said we'd be in this position before the season you wouldn't have believed it. But it's nice.

"We know we have a good side and it's difficult to play against us. We have shown that we are not as bad as everybody said we were and we have some good players too. Michael Ricketts, Kevin Nolan and Ricardo Gardner are three great young players who give us a good mix with the more experienced players."