Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is joining up with the Norway squad over the international break despite being out for over a month through injury.
The 26-year-old has not played since limping out of the Gunners’ win over West Ham on October 4, struggling with a knee complaint.
It is not the first injury Odegaard has suffered in a frustrating season so far, which has seen him play 90 minutes of just one Premier League game.
There is hope that the midfielder will be back for the first game after the international break, when Arsenal host Tottenham in the north London derby on November 23.
However, he will be away from the club before then as he links up with his international teammates for two crunch World Cup qualifiers.
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Odegaard will not be playing, just supporting the national team from the sidelines while he continues his injury rehab with Norway’s medical staff.
The former Real Madrid man did the same as Norway played Israel last month and secured a 5-0 win in Oslo.
Speaking about Odegaard’s arrival this week, Norway manager Stale Solbakken told Dagbladet: ‘He will fly in 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.’
Norway on verge of World Cup qualification
The Norwegians host Estonia in Oslo on Thursday November 13, with qualification for the World Cup possible that night.
Italy are three points behind Norway at the top of Group I, so if Norway win and Italy fail to beat Moldova away, then the race is over.
However, if both nations win on Thursday, there will be a vital final clash between Italy and Norway in Milan on Sunday November 16.
The Norwegians are likely to hold a massive advantage in that contest, though, as they currently have a +26 goal difference compared to Italy’s +10.
Arsenal hoping for string of returns against Spurs
As for Arsenal’s injury concerns, Mikel Arteta is hoping that Odegaard is available on November 23, along with Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli.
All five are nearing a return from their various injury woes and could be involved in the squad against Tottenham after the disappointment of drawing 2-2 at Sunderland last time out.
Gabriel Jesus is also back in training after a serious knee injury and is closing in on playing for the first time since January.
‘I’m thrilled to have him,’ Arteta said last week of the striker’s return to training. ‘I think he’s going to add something extra to the team that we don’t have, and make sure that very soon we see him on that pitch making an impact for the team.
‘It’s about making the steps day-by-day in a different surrounding. He’s been doing everything on his own; now he’s got players around him, very competitive players around him, and let’s see how he copes with that. But he’s full of energy, I love the reaction of all his teammates when he first joined us and great to have him back.’