Substitute Lasse Vibe netted his first international goal to earn Denmark a point away to Albania on Saturday, and if he can do the same at home to Portugal on Tuesday could become a regular starter for Morten Olsen’s side.
The introduction of Vibe, who tops the scoring charts in the Swedish league with 20 goals for IFK Gothenburg, turned the game in the Danes’ favour.
The match against Portugal promises to be a sterner challenge but Vibe is confident of making a similar impact.
The two sides know each other well, having met five times in the last six years, including the qualifying campaigns for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 - with each side registering two victories and a solitary draw.
Vibe’s second-half strike partner in Albania, Nicklas Bendtner, netted five goals in those five games but despite creating the opening for Vibe’s equaliser against Albania with a mazy run, looked otherwise subdued.
Ronaldo has been in phenomenal goal-scoring form for Real Madrid at the start of the season, but scored only twice in those encounters, though the Danes will still need to keep a close eye on him should he overcome his injury doubt.
Denmark top the five-team group on four points, ahead of Albania courtesy of scoring more goals. Serbia, who host Albania on Tuesday, and Armenia both have one point after drawing earlier on Saturday.
Portugal are bottom of the group having lost to Albania in their only game so far.
Germany midfielder Christoph Kramer has been ruled out of the World Cup winners’ Euro 2016 qualifier against Ireland in Gelsenkirchen with a stomach virus, coach Joachim Loew said on Monday.
Kramer joined a long list of absent players, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marco Reus and Mesut Ozil, as the Germans look to bounce back after Saturday’s surprise 2-0 defeat in Poland.
Loew could opt for a more attacking option to replace the World Cup winner on Tuesday, with Max Kruse the only out-and-out striker in the 18-man squad.