Bendtner voted Denmark's best

Arsenal FC striker Nicklas Bendtner was named 2009 Danish Player of the Year in a ceremony in Copenhagen on Monday but will not play for another three to four weeks after undergoing surgery on his injured groin in Germany.

Double award
The 21-year-old, who has been out since the end of October, is set to miss the 24 November Group H visit of R. Standard de Liège, when a point would take Arsenal through. But he had cause for celebration in winning a vote of fans using the internet and text messages after playing an important part in Denmark's qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Indeed his strike in the 1-1 draw with Portugal in September was also elected Goal of the Year. Among the other awards, national coach Morten Olsen was named Coach of the Year and former Manchester United FC goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel became the sixth man inducted into Denmark's Football Hall of Fame.

'Great honour'
"It is an immensely great honour to be awarded Player of the Year by the fans," Bendtner said. "I want to thank all those fans who voted for me. I would also like to thank my parents who have believed in me all the time, and I wish to thank my coaches and my team-mates who made this possible for me."