Norway boss Stale Solbakken believes Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard is still “some distance away” from returning to action after injury.
Though many recent reports have suggested that Martin Odegaard could recover from his injury in time to play for Arsenal after the international break, Norway manager Stale Solbakken has cast doubt on those claims in a press conference this week.
Though Solbakken did confirm plans to fly Odegaard out to Norway to join the national team, there is no intention of the midfielder playing for the side, and the manager suggested he’s not particularly close to a comeback.
“It is steady,” Solbakken said of Odegaard’s injury recovery. “It is going in a steady direction but he is some distance away.
“He will fly in [to Oslo] after his rehab on Thursday. Then he will continue his rehab with us and will be with us from Thursday afternoon. I don’t know when the flight leaves. But he will be with us until Milan.”
Reports earlier this week had revealed that Odegaard would join up with the Norway squad despite his injury, supporting the team in their World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Italy.
The midfielder did the same thing during the last break, supporting Norway to a win over Israel and celebrating with the squad in the dressing room.
This international break is an even bigger one for the team, as a win over Estonia would all but confirm qualification for the World Cup.
Though Norway are only three points ahead of Italy with two games remaining, their goal difference is far superior to Italy’s. If Norway can beat Estonia, even defeat to Italy on the final day would probably still see them through.
Yet, if Italy win against Moldova, top spot in the group and automatic qualification won’t be mathematically confirmed until after the game between Italy and Norway on November 16th.
The group runner-up will play a play-off for one final chance at qualification.