West Brom: New Sweden boss renews of hope for Jonas Olsson's hopes of a first cap

Nov 21 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

A NEW coach can provide new opportunities.

That’s how Albion defender Jonas Olsson is viewing the change of management in the Swedish national side.

Long-serving boss Lars Lagerback has gone, being replaced by current Rosenberg boss Erik Hamren and assisted by one-time Villa player Marcus Allback.

Olsson has yet to be capped at full international level.

But the 26-year-old, who won 23 caps with the national under-21 side is aiming to impress the new regime.

With five of his Albion team-mates looking forward to a summer of World Cup football – six if Scott Carson wins back his place in the England squad – it’s clear to see why Olsson has got the international bug.

And Olsson is ready to help Sweden with their Euro 2012 qualifiers, even though there remains the small matter of competing for a place with several established defenders, including Swedish legend Olaf Mellberg.

Olsson said: “I’m still hoping for a call, it is one of your dreams growing up playing football.

“One is being professional and the second is representing your country.

“It is something that is in the back of my head and that motivates me to become a better player.

“I don’t think I have been unlucky, I think you can always have opinions about how the coach likes his team, but in the end it’s up to you.

“If you perform well enough you will be there.”

He continued: “You see Woodsy coming back having qualified with New Zealand and Roko (Slovenia’s Robert Koren) and Marek (Cech of Slovakia) – I’m just very happy for them.

“It inspires me to hopefully be part of that sometime in the future.

“On Wednesday it was the first national game with the new coach and they are still playing with the same centre-halves.

“I know I’m in the picture but how close, it is difficult to say.”

Olsson admits that Albion winning promotion would help his cause significantly.

“I think if Albion go up I obviously have a better chance,” he said.

“But for me personally it should not make any difference if you are bottom of the Premier League or top of the Championship.”