GREAT DANE Thomas Sorensen, who has established himself as one of the Premiership's foremost goalkeepers with Sunderland, believes it could be another two years before he finally ousts the legendary Peter Schmeichel at international level.

Sorensen got his first start for Denmark in the goalless friendly against Germany in November when the former Manchester United star was injured.

But the 24-year-old is resigned to resuming his place on the substitutes bench at the end of this month when Denmark play a friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

Sorensen said: "Peter Scheichel is still the number one for Denmark and the coach builds the team around him.

"He has got a good influence on the players around him and even if I am getting closer to him I still have a lot of that side to learn.

"I am sure that in one or two years the Danish goalkeeping position will be mine if I continue to play as well as I have been.

"There is nothing I can do about it and I have just got to be patient.

"The one thing I won't do is go out and start criticising people in the newspapers - you don't get anything out of that.

"You can only try to prove yourself out on the pitch and that's what I am trying to do."

Sorensen admits it would be a special occasion for him if he could start the game in Dublin against his club-mate Niall Quinn, who still needs one goal to equal Frank Stapleton's record for the Republic.

He said: "It would be a great occasion for me to play in Ireland and I still think there is a chance, we'll see.

"But if Peter is in the squad and is there, I expect him to go in. There's always the chance, however and you have to be prepared to take your chance."

Danish coach Morten Olsen has said that Schmeichel is still his first-choice keeper, despite undergoing key-hole surgery on a knee injury received in training with Sporting Lisbon in the autumn.

Olsen, however, is waiting for a fitness report on Schmeichel, who is set to miss Sporting Lisbon's Portugese Cup quarter final tie against Famalicao next Monday with a hand injury.

Olsen has also revealed his reluctance to watch football in England because, he believes that there are so many games the players become jaded and some of the pitches are in a very poor condition.

But Sorensen is not too concerned that Olsen has not been to watch him in action this season and believes that the coach knows how the keeper's form has helped Sunderland challenge for a place in Europe.

Sorensen said: "I think he knows how I am playing. Everytime I go home he refers to a lot of games and situations I have been involved in.

"He must watch the Premiership highlights on television over there and see some videos of games. I think he knows what my strengths are and he knows I performed pretty well in the Germany game.

"I think there are other players he wants to have a closer look at.

"At the end of the day if I just keep on doing well at some point he can't get around me!"

lThe three Sunderland players - Don Hutchison, Gavin McCann and Julio Arca - reported to the FA by referee Graham Barber for jumping into the crowd to celebrate the opening goal against Liverpool, are likely to escape with a warning.

Barber will also be asked by the powerful FA Referees Committee why he did not send off Sunderland defender Stanislav Varga for his professioinal foul on Gary McAllister which resulted in Liverpool's controversial point-winning penalty.