Rasmus Hojlund was relegated to the bench as Denmark thrashed Lithuania 5-0 in yesterday's friendly match.
The Manchester United striker watched from the sidelines as his replacement, Mika Biereth, delivered a commanding performance up front.
The Monaco forward justified his selection by opening the scoring and later drawing a red card when he was fouled by Edgaras Utkus.
Biereth partnered Kasper Dolberg in attack, with the latter also finding the net in the comprehensive victory.
Hojlund eventually entered the fray as a 72nd-minute substitute but failed to make any meaningful contribution to Denmark's dominant display.
Danish media have declared that Biereth has now overtaken Hojlund in the national team hierarchy. Bold described the Monaco striker as "venomous" when it mattered and claimed he has jumped above Hojlund in the pecking order.
Rasmus Hojlund may now be out of favour with his national team.
PA
"Hojlund must be shaking his pants by now. He has been overtaken," the Danish outlet wrote.
The Manchester United forward's struggles extended beyond yesterday's match. He had also disappointed in Denmark's previous fixture, playing 66 minutes before being substituted for Biereth in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Northern Ireland.
JUST IN: Premier League viewership tanks as Sky and TNT struggle to combat illegal piracy
Hojlund's difficult campaign at club level has clearly affected his international standing, with the 21-year-old managing just four goals in 32 Premier League appearances this season.
The contrast between the two strikers' club form is stark. Biereth has flourished since joining Monaco from Austrian side Sturm Graz, netting 13 goals in just 19 matches, including three hat-tricks.
READ MORE: Chris Eubank Sr launches scathing attack on boxing promoters following son's fight
Mika Biereth put on a commanding display in what should have been Rasmus Hojlund's place in the team
Reuters
The London-born forward, who left Arsenal last year, has demonstrated the clinical edge that Hojlund has lacked throughout his disappointing season at Old Trafford.
Hojlund's struggles have sparked speculation about his future, with reports linking him to a shock move to Inter Milan this summer. Despite the rumours, the striker recently hinted at remaining in Manchester, saying: "I have a contract until 2030, so I expect to play for Manchester United."
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
He added: "I'm looking forward to going on a summer holiday and then I'm fully dedicated to the project that's underway."
The 21-year-old acknowledged the speculation surrounding his future, stating: "I know I can't get much out of reading things. I know what the facts are."
Rasmus Hojlund only played the final 20 minutes of the game
Reuters
However, Hojlund's position at Manchester United could face further pressure if the club pursues Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres. Portuguese reports suggest Gyokeres has threatened to go on strike to force an exit from Sporting.
The potential arrival of the Swedish international would intensify competition for places at Old Trafford, where Hojlund has already struggled to establish himself as the primary striker. His international demotion by Denmark only compounds what has been a challenging period for the young forward.
Most Read
