Denmark striker Bendtner is back on the team

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Nicklas Bendtner, the Danish forward who had been suspended from the national side for drunk driving incident, is back for Denmark's two last World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Malta.

Denmark coach Morten Olsen says he was "not in doubt" to take Bendtner back after seeing him last week make his first start for Arsenal since August 2011.

Bendtner was sent away from the Danish side in November after driving with a blood-alcohol content of 1.75 3.5 times higher than the legal limit. He eventually was fined and had his driver's license suspended for three years.

Olsen on Tuesday picked a 23-man team to play Italy and Malta at home on Oct. 11 and 15. The list also includes forward Christian Eriksen, midfielder William Kvist, veteran defenders Simon Kjaer and Daniel Agger, and goalies Stephan Andersen and Kasper Schmeichel.

While Italy already has secured qualification for the World Cup, Bulgaria and Denmark are fighting for a playoff spot from Group B.

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Denmark:

Goalkeepers: Stephan Andersen (Realo Betis), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester), Jesper Hansen (Evian).

Defenders: Lars Jacobsen (Copenhagen), Nicolai Boilesen (Ajax), Peter Ankersen (Esbjerg), Simon Kjaer (Lille), Andreas Bjelland (Twente), Daniel Agger (Liverpool).

Midfielders: William Kvist (Stuttgart), Niki Zimling (Mainz), Casper Sloth (Aarhus), Leon Andreasen (Hanover), Thomas Delaney (Copenhagen), Jakob Ankersen (Esbjerg), Emil Larsen (Odense).

Forwards: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Martin Braithwaite (Toulouse), Viktor Fischer (Ajax), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Celta de Vigo), Simon Makienok (Brondby), Nicki Bille Nielsen (Rosenborg), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).