Norway manager Ståle Solbakken is ‘not giving up’ on Arsenal star Martin Ødegaard for October’s international break, according to ABC Nyheter.
Earlier this month, the midfielder suffered an injury in Norway’s 2-1 win over Austria in the UEFA Nations League and he’s been sidelined since then.
Last Wednesday, Mikel Arteta revealed the Arsenal player has damaged a ligament in his ankle. He also stated the 25-year-old could be out “for a while”.
The Gunners manager again insisted on Tuesday that the former Real Madrid man will be out for “weeks”. This hasn’t stopped the national team boss from suggesting Ødegaard could be selected for the upcoming international break.
Norway will take on Slovenia and Austria in the UEFA Nations League on October 10th and 14th respectively. Solbakken has told NTB via a text message that the Arsenal captain could be in his plans for these fixtures.
“We plan with and without him,” he said, relayed by ABC Nyheter.
Ødegaard needs to recover in just over a week’s time to make it to the Norway squad for the next two matches. This remains unlikely if we take Arteta’s comments into account.
Therefore, Solbakken’s suggestion of the Arsenal midfielder representing his country next month is surprising.
