Norway head coach Stale Solbakken says Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is on track to return for the November international break.
Odegaard, 25, has been out of action since sustaining an ankle ligament injury during international duty on September 9.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said earlier this month that he is confident that the midfielder will be available for selection before the next international break, and Solbakken will be hoping that the Norway captain returns in time for his side’s Nations League games against Slovenia (November 14) and Kazakhstan (November 17).
“Everything indicates that things are going according to plan, so it’s about the last steps when you have to train with opponents and in team training,” Solbakken told Norwegian outlet Verdens Gang.
“It depends on how he responds to that, but we have a legitimate hope that he is ready (for Norway’s November games).
“I have spoken to him quite regularly. Now that things are starting to move forward, it’s easier, but it’s no fun being injured. At the same time, he has rarely been injured, so it is probably a matter of training for him.”
Odegaard was left out of the Norway squad for their Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Austria earlier this month, with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland deputising as captain in his absence.
In his captain notes before Arsenal’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this week, Odegaard said: “I’ve been working very hard on my recovery in the past few weeks, and missing out on big Champions League nights like this just makes me more determined and motivated to get back as soon as possible.
“I’m feeling better and better each day, but when it’s an ankle injury you have ups and downs as well. Some days you feel really good, and then sometimes you can have a little reaction. But in general it’s getting better and I feel like I’m getting closer now.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work in the gym, and was on an anti-gravity treadmill recently, which is really good because it takes the weight off. Especially at the beginning that was really good, to be running again like that when you’ve been offloading the leg and not using it as much as normal.
“That was a good feeling, helping me get back to moving in a normal way, and being able to run after not being able to do that.”
Arsenal face Liverpool at home this Sunday before trips to Preston North End and Newcastle United before the international break.
(Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)
