As Norway prepares for pivotal Nations League matches, the focus is on Arsenal's Martin Ødegaard, whose fitness remains uncertain after an ankle injury. His potential return could make a significant impact on the team's prospects.
As Norway prepares for important matches in the Nations League, attention is on the condition of Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, who has just returned to play after suffering an ankle injury while representing his country in September. The 25-year-old midfielder arrived in Oslo earlier this week to rejoin the Norway national team, and a decision concerning his participation in the upcoming games against Slovenia and Kazakhstan will be made in the next few days.
Ødegaard's return to fitness has been gradual, as he has had limited playing time following his injury. He made a brief appearance in Arsenal’s loss to Inter Milan last Wednesday and then played the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday. However, Ødegaard was initially left out of the Norway squad for the current international break, with coach Ståle Solbakken stating that a decision regarding his participation would be made later. Now that Ødegaard has rejoined the team, it seems the situation is still uncertain.
“We have had transparent and candid discussions with Mikel Arteta,” Solbakken stated, mentioning the Arsenal manager. “He doesn’t possess any additional information beyond what has been publicly shared or what Ødegaard has relayed to both the Arsenal medical team and us. We are all aligned.”
Solbakken recognized that Ødegaard’s fitness has raised concerns due to his limited training regime since the injury. “In nearly eight weeks, he has only participated in one and a half training sessions prior to playing 95 minutes against Chelsea,” Solbakken remarked. “It’s expected that there will be some kind of reaction following that effort.”
As Norway's chances of moving up to the upper tier of the Nations League remain uncertain—currently leading Group B3 with seven points, tied with Austria and Slovenia—Solbakken is understandably eager to have his captain available, provided he is fully fit. In the coming days, both Norway's medical team and Ødegaard will conduct further evaluations, with an imminent decision expected regarding his participation in Thursday's match against Slovenia or the home game against Kazakhstan on Sunday.
"In the end, the decision rests with Martin," Solbakken said. "He is the best judge of his own body, and it’s essential that he feels completely ready before we proceed with any decisions."
As Norway strives for promotion in a competitive group, Solbakken's thoughtful management of Ødegaard's comeback will be vital in making sure that the key midfielder is ready for selection, provided his fitness permits.
