1. Poulsen was born in Asnaes, Denmark on February 28, 1980 - the same date Public Sleeping Day is celebrated.

If he had been born a day later, he would now only be seven and a half years old as 1980 was a leap year.

2. He has worked with Roy Hodgson before, figuring in FC Copenhagen's 2000/01 title-winning 2000-01 season, having joined them from amateur club Holbæk B&I where he started his career.

3. He played in all three of Denmark's 2002 World Cup finals group stage games but missed their second round exit to England through suspension.

4. He moved to German side Schalke 04 after that World Cup, helping them win the 2005 German League Cup and being named Danish player of the year in successive years, the first player to do so.

5. He played for Denmark in Euro 2004 and his abrasive midfield style certainly rubbed Italy's Francesco Totti up the wrong way when the Roma midfielder was sent off for spitting at Poulsen.

Totti issued a full public apology for the incident, while also claiming that he was 'severely provoked' by Poulsen, and years later before the two were due to go head-to-head in Serie A, bitterly commented, "It's easy to talk now.. he could have come and told the truth at the hearing the day after.

"I don't think he adds anything at a technical level."