Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was always confident of a Premier League return.

Not even after he was dumped by first club Manchester City in 2009 – in favour of future England international Joe Hart. No chance.

Instead of sulking, Schmeichel – who had already been on loan at Cardiff, Falkirk and Darlington – happily dropped down to League Two with Notts County.

From there, he joined Championship Leeds and then Leicester – before clinching promotion and a return to the big league in 2014.

Schmeichel, 29, son of Manchester United legend Peter, said: “I always expected this turn in my career.

"There was an eight-year gap between the last time I'd played in the Premier League and when I got back there.

“But I never doubted I'd get back."