Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has returned to training for the first time since sustaining an ankle injury in September.
The 25-year-old has missed Arsenal’s last 12 games in all competitions after sustaining an ankle ligament injury during international duty in September.
However, in what is a major boost for the north London side, the midfielder was spotted in training ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.
It is yet to be confirmed whether Odegaard will travel with team-mates to Italy later on Tuesday.
While he is close to returning for Arsenal and is working towards fitness in order to try to be involved this weekend, Norway’s manager Stale Solbakken has omitted him from his squad for the upcoming international break.
Odegaard will miss the Nations League fixtures against Slovenia on November 14 and Kazakhstan on November 17 with Solbakken accepting his captain is not ready to be pushed.
“I speak to Martin every day, we do not rule it out completely but he has to feel ready,” said Solbakken. “They face Chelsea on Sunday and we’ll take it day by day but for now it’s not possible for him to be involved.”
He was left out of the Norway squad for their fixtures in October, with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland deputising as skipper in his absence.
Nations League-squad 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/DX9bZmionm
— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) November 5, 2024
Odegaard appeared to twist his left ankle after being tackled from behind by Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner in the 64th minute of Norway’s Nations League clash in Oslo on September 9.
After a two-minute stoppage for treatment, the former Real Madrid playmaker tried to limp off the pitch unaided before being carried to the sideline by medical staff, where he was subsequently replaced by Kristian Thorstvedt.
Arsenal, whose defeat to Newcastle United last Saturday left them seven points off league leaders Liverpool, face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. They are still without Riccardo Calafiori, Takehrio Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney.
‘A good example of clubs and countries working together’
Analysis from Amy Lawrence
Odegaard was injured playing for his country against Austria in early September and has missed seven Premier League games and all of Arsenal’s Champions League games so far this season.
His creativity and leadership has been sorely missing, especially lately.
Solbakken’s caution in not pushing for Odegaard’s involvement with Norway is a good example of clubs and countries working together to look after the wellbeing of their players, particularly at a time when the calendar is a sensitive issue in terms of overplaying.
(Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
