As a big Danish goalkeeper who came to a Premier League club, it is no surprise Mikkel Andersen mentions Peter Schmeichel among his favourite sportsmen.

But Albion’s new loan signing names a gloved gladiator from a different sport, and a very different part of the world, as his inspiration.

Twenty-year-old Andersen, who stands 6ft 5in, wants to take a leaf out of Muhammad Ali’s book when it comes to pre-match preparation.

Albion brought in the back-up Reading keeper for a month to offer competition to John Sullivan while Michel Kuipers recovers from injury.

Having signed a two-year deal, taking him through to the summer of 2011, Andersen clearly sees his longer term future with Reading.

He joined Reading in January 2007, when they were a top-flight outfit, despite interest from Juventus.

Once the youngest keeper in the Danish top flight, he has been on the bench several times this season and has one Football League appearance on loan to Brentford to his name.

It all looks good so far. But, if he makes it to the top of the bill, Ali will have unwittingly played a part.

When Schmeichel’s name is brought into conversation, Andersen says: “Of course he was an influence. I’d watch the United games on TV with the family.

“But I’m into boxing. The classic old matches. Muhammad Ali is a big personal influence for me with how he prepared for fights.

“I don’t do boxing but it’s the mentality of it rather than the physical side.

“It’s like ‘don’t let anybody beat you down’ and you can transfer that to football or any other sport.”

Andersen has been on loan at Torquay and Rushden, the latter when Tony Godden was goalkeeping coach.

Godden is working with Albion and alerted them about the Dane’s potential.

Then there was his Danish under-21 debut, in a 1-0 win over Malta recently.

“Fairly quiet but you have to stay focussed,” is his diplomatic assessment of the evening he kept Malta at bay.

Andersen started out with AB Copenhagen and owes his chance in England to a pre-season tour to these shores.

A friendly in the low key surrounds of Palmer Park, a municipal multi-sports venue in Reading, proved key to his fledgling career.

He said: “AB is ten minutes from home. I wanted to come to England to develop as a player and a person.

“I was on a training camp with AB and we played against Reading and after that they gave me a couple of trials. They signed me when I turned 18.

“This season has been good so far. I went on the pre-season tour, I’ve been on the bench for almost the whole season. Then I top it off with a new deal so it can’t be bad.

“I want to get some league games, get some experience. I’m only 20 so I’ve got a long way to go.”