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Nicklas Bendtner omitted from the Denmark squad - how did it come to this?

Nicklas Bendtner of Denmark reacts during the European Qualifier Play-Off between Sweden and Denmark

“If you ask me if I am one of the best strikers in the world, I say yes because I believe it,” said Nicklas Bendtner, back in April 2010.

Yet, six years on, the 28-year-old finds himself unable to get into either a less-than-stellar Denmark squad that failed to qualify for Euro 2016, and on the verge of leaving Wolfsburg prematurely.

Few would argue that the former Arsenal striker is one of the best front men in the world, as he claimed in that Daily Mail interview all those years ago, but with a record of 29 goals in 72 appearances for his country, how has he found himself behind a trio of attackers with a combined record of just six goals in 40 appearances?

Ultimately it comes down to goals this season - or the lack of them in Bendtner's case. It is now over a year since he scored last international goal and he has managed only four in 24 appearances for club and country in 2015/16.

Nicklas Bendtner Arsenal
Image: Bendtner scored 47 goals in 171 games for Arsenal

That statistic is all the more damning when you consider that he scored three in his first four games of the campaign, managing just one since August 22. Even that goal is fast becoming a distant memory, coming as it did almost five months ago on October 31.

Indeed, Bendtner has made more headlines with his antics off the pitch than he has for his performances on it since joining Wolfsburg in the summer of 2014, and his relationship with manager Dieter Hecking has been rocky to say the least.

The Wolfsburg boss criticised Bendtner during pre-season and insisted that the Dane would not be considered for the first team while he continued to "clearly lag behind" his team-mates.

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"I hope he realises that this does him good," Hecking told Sport1.de. "He can really do with this to get better."

Meanwhile, the club's sporting director Klaus Allofs made his feelings on the matter crystal clear.

"If anybody wants to play for us then they can follow us," he told Sport Bild magazine. "Anybody who doesn't want to do that and does not get in line has no place at this club."

Phil Jones of Manchester United fends off Nicklas Bendtner of VfL Wolfsburg during the UEFA Champions League Group B match at Old Trafford
Image: Nicklas Bendtner has struggled at Wolfsburg this season

However, by the time Wolfsburg travelled to the UK to take on Manchester United in the Champions League in September, frosty relations seem to have thawed.

"He has reacted very well. I have seen that in training," Hecking said. "He did have problems before but in his time at Wolfsburg he has come on a lot.

"Certainly in the last four to six weeks I have seen more development from him. He is on the right track. That is clear."

Bendtner fined for lie-in
Bendtner fined for lie-in

Nicklas Bendtner has been fined 2,250 euros by Wolfsburg after over-sleeping and missing training

Bendtner was soon derailed and since his manager's remarks he has started only three games for Wolfsburg in six months and made his last appearance for the Bundesliga side almost two months ago in a 3-0 defeat at Schalke.

His lack of playing time was such that it was reported that he had said his farewells to his team-mates and was on his way out of the club in January, something he was quick to deny.

"I did not say goodbye to anyone. I play for Wolfsburg and I remain committed to working there," Bendtner told bt.dk.

"My situation is undoubtedly unsustainable, but I am in no way released. As long as I have a contract with Wolfsburg then I will respect it."

Credit: @bendtner3n
Image: Bendtner got himself into trouble for posting this picture. Credit: @bendtner3n

Less than a month later and Bendtner found himself in hot water having failed to respect his contract, after posting a picture of himself getting into a Mercedes - rivals to the club's main backer Volkswagen and earning himself a hefty fine.

"We have our rules, one of those being that you must pay attention to how you are photographed in public," said Allofs. "The rules are not new. It's misconduct and it's careless, which at the end of the day will cost [Bendtner] money."

Hecking, meanwhile, appeared to have come to the end of his tether when it came to the forward.

"I've said all there is to say," was his dismissive reply when asked about Bendtner.

The front man has done little to appease the club since, picking up another fine earlier in March after showing up 45 minutes late for training having slept through his alarm.

And now, according to reports in the Guardian, Wolfsburg are looking to terminate the three-year contract Bendtner signed in the summer of 2014.

"We have attempted to hold talks with his advisers and have discussed a solution. I think that there will be a decision soon," Allofs told Bild.

"We have decided that he does not have to come in for now. The fact that he has been training on his own recently was not something we wanted to carry on."

Simply put, things aren't going to plan for Bendtner. Not that he seems too concerned, his confidence levels certainly show no signs of diminishing.

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He recently posted a picture of himself and partner Julie Zangenberg on Instagram alongside the caption: "We really don't care what people think. We hot and young, and full of fun."

For now though, both Wolfsburg and Denmark seem happy to do without Bendtner and his fun. What the future holds for the Copenhagen-born forward is unclear.

However, one thing seems certain and that is Bendtner will not be at the Volkswagen Arena next season.

Wherever he ends up, it seems safe to say that we have not heard the last of Nicklas Bendtner.

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