Denmark vs Republic of Ireland: Manchester United icon Peter Schmeichel sends World Cup warning

Denmark great Peter Schmeichel has major concerns that his country will underestimate the Republic of Ireland and that it could cost them a place at the World Cup.

The former Manchester United star has nothing but praise for the way Martin O’Neill has assembled his side, which features a number of players from the Championship, and matched some of the best sides in Europe.

The Republic showed their spirit again when they came away with a crucial victory in Wales last month, securing their place in the World Cup play-offs.

Schmeichel is fully aware of the threats in the Ireland team and fears Denmark could underestimate them when the first leg of the tie is played on Saturday night in Copenhagen.

Schmeichel said: "They have incredible mental strength. When you have to go to Cardiff and must win to stay in the game, and you play the best Wales team at getting results that I can remember and you go and win, that’s impressive.

"This is my worry, that some of the Danish players that don’t know England don’t know how good the Championship is.

"There are a lot of Championship players that play in the Ireland team and [we] could go out there thinking ‘they only play in the second tier of English football’.

"We’re very, very similar. Okay, we talk about Christian Eriksen but he’s the exception to the rule here.

"He’s a big, world-class star, but the players that we have are not from the Manchester Uniteds, Citys, Liverpools of this world."

Ireland have been handed a boost after Jeff Hendrick resumed training after suffering a lower back injury for Burnley against Southampton.