Lasse Vibe said he never had any doubts about accepting his call-up to the Denmark squad for the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. The striker is one of three over-23s permitted in Niels Frederiksen’s squad for the tournament in Brazil, which gets underway next month. The Danes have been drawn alongside Iraq, South Africa and the hosts in the group stages and Lasse admitted that he was very proud to be representing his nation on such a world stage.

Speaking to Bees Player after receiving his call-up Lasse said: “It is a big honour. I know the Olympics, football-wise, is not the biggest thing but I am going to the Olympics and that is a huge thing for me. Representing your country is always a big thing and we are going to play some big teams and some great players. On the flip side you have to leave your club and miss a couple of games but my first reaction was to be really proud. I said yes straight away and it was more about whether I was going to get permission to go. That has been a big problem, even for our squad, and I have no problem that I am probably not the first choice. I am going anyway and I am just happy to go.

“If you continually go away with the national team you, mentally, feel like a better player. You also have to adapt to the level of the players that you are playing with and when you come back you try to bring that level and that confidence into your club team. I managed to do that last season after a period when I was having a bit of a hard time. Hopefully the Olympics can be the same thing and I can come back flying straight into the new season.”

Lasse joined The Bees in July last year from Swedish club IFK Goteborg, midway through their domestic season. The timing of his move meant that the 29-year-old played the best part of 15 months straight before this summer’s break. While Lasse admits that the time off means he isn’t in the shape now that he was in when he first arrived this time last year he feels it does mean he will be much fresher later on in the season.

“I have had a break for the first time in a while,” said Lasse. “We worked really hard when we were away in Germany. I was in a little bit later than the guys because of my international duties during the summer but I still managed to get a break in and I feel refreshed. Hopefully I can build myself up to 100 per cent before the season starts. I feel much fresher and rested but when I came here last season I was 100 per cent and playing 90 minutes every week for my former club. I came straight back in from European Qualifiers in the midweek and league games at the weekends. I am not at 100 per cent yet and I haven’t played 90 minutes for a long time. If you compare those two physical levels I would probably say I was better when I came but what the break will means is that I am a lot fresher when it gets to December, January, February, and March.”

Lasse finished as The Bees joint top goalscorer last campaign, level with Alan Judge on 14. The Danish International felt his first season in England taught him a lot about himself and his game and he wants to hit the ground running this time round.

“I learned a lot about the physical side of the game and the tempo last season but also about finding your role in the team,” said Lasse. “I feel that I have adapted quite well now and hopefully I can show that from the first minute this season. For me sometimes you score and sometimes you don’t, they are more like a natural product of the work that you do. I try to focus on getting minutes on the pitch and then the goals will come. That is what I am focusing on, especially in the Championship, where there are a lot of games. My aim next season is to be involved as much as possible. I think I did quite well in my first season and I am looking to keep that up and get as many starts as possible.”