Norway's hopes for Nations League promotion rest on the fitness of captain Martin Ødegaard, whose cautious return from injury raises critical questions ahead of upcoming matches against Slovenia and Kazakhstan.
As Norway prepares for crucial Nations League matches, attention is directed towards the fitness of Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, who has just returned to the field after suffering an ankle injury while on international duty in September. The 25-year-old midfielder arrived in Oslo earlier this week to rejoin the Norway national team, and in the coming days, a decision will be made concerning his participation in the upcoming games against Slovenia and Kazakhstan.
Ødegaard's return to fitness has been gradual, as he has had limited playing time since his injury. He made a brief appearance in Arsenal’s loss to Inter Milan last Wednesday and then played the entire 90 minutes in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea. However, Ødegaard was initially left out of the Norway squad for this international break, with coach Ståle Solbakken suggesting that a decision on his participation would be made later. Now that Ødegaard is back with the team, the situation remains uncertain.
“We have engaged in transparent and candid conversations with Mikel Arteta,” Solbakken stated, referring to the Arsenal manager. “He hasn't been privy to much more information beyond what has been shared publicly or what Ødegaard has relayed to both the Arsenal medical team and ourselves. We are all aligned.”
Solbakken recognized that Ødegaard's fitness has been a concern due to his limited training since the injury. “Over the course of nearly eight weeks, he has only managed one and a half training sessions before competing for 95 minutes against Chelsea,” Solbakken stated. “It's to be expected that there will be some sort of reaction following that.”
With Norway's chances of advancing to the top tier of the Nations League still uncertain—currently leading Group B3 with seven points, alongside Austria and Slovenia—Solbakken is understandably eager to have his captain available if he is deemed fully fit. In the coming days, there will be additional evaluations conducted by both Norway's medical team and Ødegaard himself, with a decision anticipated soon regarding his participation in Thursday's match against Slovenia or Sunday's home game against Kazakhstan.
“In the end, the decision rests with Martin,” Solbakken remarked. “He understands his body better than anyone else, and it’s crucial that he feels fully prepared before we proceed with any decisions.”
As Norway aims for promotion in a competitive group, Solbakken's cautious management of Ødegaard's return will be essential to ensure that the key midfielder is available for selection, provided he is fit to play.
