Norway hoping Odegaard will be fit for next international break | OneFootball

Norway’s national team manager Ståle Solbakken says that they are preparing “with and without him” for their UEFA Nations League matches as they continue to remain hopeful he will be available.

Ødegaard, who suffered an ankle injury while playing for Norway earlier this month, has been at the centre of discussions as both club and country assess his fitness ahead of crucial fixtures.

Solbakken does not give up on Ødegaard – Dagsavisen 25 September 2024

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided an update on Ødegaard’s situation ahead of Arsenal’s League Cup clash against Bolton, indicating a more optimistic outlook on the midfielder’s recovery.

Speaking to the press, Arteta said, “I think it will be a matter of weeks, but how long exactly, I cannot tell you” He added, “We might get a surprise but I think it’s unlikely [that he will return before the next international break].”

Despite this, Solbakken remains hopeful that Ødegaard might still feature in Norway’s upcoming fixtures, telling NTB (Norwegian News Agency), “We plan with and without him.” He noted that national team doctor Ola Sand is maintaining regular communication with Arsenal’s medical team to monitor the player’s progress closely.

Norway’s coach Staale Solbakken (C) oversees a training session with Norway’s men’s national football team with Norway’s forward Erling Braut Haland (L) and Norway’s midfielder Martin Odegaard at the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo on June 14, 2023 before the European Championship qualifiers against Scotland on June 17, 2023. (Photo by Fredrik Varfjell / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT (Photo by FREDRIK VARFJELL/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

This latest update marks a shift from the previous week’s more concerning news, where Arteta had said, “After recent examinations, the scans showed that he has suffered an injury to one of the ligaments in his ankle. It’s quite significant, so we’re going to lose him for a while.” The initial prognosis had raised fears that Ødegaard could be sidelined until November, but Arteta’s latest comments suggest that his recovery might be progressing faster than anticipated.

The potential early return of Ødegaard would be a significant boost for Arsenal, especially with the demanding schedule they face in the coming weeks. The Gunners have a tough run of fixtures, starting with a match against Liverpool at the end of October, followed by away games against Newcastle United, Inter Milan, and Chelsea as they head into November. Having their captain back in the midfield could be crucial in navigating this challenging period.

Norway, meanwhile, will gather their squad in two weeks ahead of their UEFA Nations League fixtures against Slovenia (home) and Austria (away). Solbakken’s comments suggest that the national team is still hoping for a positive outcome regarding Ødegaard’s availability, but Arsenal will undoubtedly be wary of rushing their star player back into action.