clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Introducing Gunnar Nielsen

Gunnar Nielsen in action against Arsenal at The Emirates. (Picture from getty images)
Gunnar Nielsen in action against Arsenal at The Emirates. (Picture from getty images)

"I have not played much at this level. I've started at the top, the rest will be easy. "The Faroe Islands is only a small country, 50,000 people, and I think they will be very proud. They know I've been trying for years.

"When I did come on it was just so intense - it was a high pressure game and I had to stay focused. I like to think I'm calm under pressure."

>>BBC Sport.

Nielsen was signed by then manager Mark Hughes in February 2009 after previously spending time under Hughes at Blackburn (also having a spell at Motherwell). At the time, I mused that the signing was little more than for squad depth purposes - something reinforced by Nielsen then being sent out on loan to Wrexham towards the end of the 2009/10 season.

Nielsen made four appearances for the Welsh side before returning to the club and realistically became the fourth choice goalkeeper on the books once Stuart Taylor was brought in, and given his age it was difficult to really see how Nielsen had any sort of long term future ahead of him at the club given the competition he faced.

With Joe Hart on loan at Birmingham though, when Stuart Taylor went down injured it put him just one injury away from being thrust into the action and now with the club facing a trio of games that is set to determine its immediate future, Nielsen finds himself suddenly thrown into the spotlight with all eyes on him.

Despite his lack of experience at the top flight, Nielsen does have two full caps for the Faroe Islands, and of course became the first Islander to play in the Premier League when he replaced Given on Saturday at The Emirates.