Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson is prepared to bide his time to establish himself in the Sweden team.
Jansson has been in fine form at club level for Leeds, helping the English second tier side rise into the playoff places in the Championship and as a result being linked with Premier League club Watford.
But at international level Jansson has had to content himself with warming the bench as coach Janne Andersson prefers skipper Andreas Granqvist and Benfica's Victor Lindelof as his central defensive pairing.
Jansson is happy to accept the coach's decision, but feels as 31-year-old Granqvist cannot go on forever, he will eventually get his chance.
"I am 25 years old, have taken a place in the squad and am an important part of the team. When I get the chance on the pitch, I will take it", Jansson was quoted as saying by Sydsvenskan.
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"Granqvist surely cannot play forever. I'll just wait until he hangs up his boots!
"No, seriously, I just want Sweden to do well.
"It is clear that I want to play, but I trust Janne to take the right decision.
"It feels hard because there is so much fierce competition amongst central defenders, but you're in the form of your life. But you must accept it.
"I can imagine that there were some strikers who were in their best shape that felt the same way when [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic played, but it's part of football – that's how it is."
Granqvist, who will turn 32 years old in April, currently turns out for Russian Premier League side Krasnodar, who finished fourth in their country's top flight last season.
His partner Lindelof is at Benfica and was linked with both Chelsea and Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
