Erling Haaland is set to leave Norway camp early ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League game against Everton, with Sverre Nypan receiving a first-team call-up
Erling Haaland has returned to Manchester City ahead of schedule and is expected to leave the Norwegian camp ahead of the friendly against New Zealand.
The 25-year-old striker scored a hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Israel, moving Norway closer to their first World Cup appearance since 1998. Despite missing two penalties early on, Haaland still completed the treble, scoring an incredible 51 goals for Norway in just 46 caps.
However, with only a friendly to conclude the international week, Haaland is one of several players given permission to return to the club early. City fans have even more to look forward to as Oscar Bobb could play against New Zealand and 18-year-old midfielder Sverre Nippan will receive his first first-team call-up.
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Nypan, who joined City from Rosenborg for £12.5m in the summer, has enjoyed a stellar spell while on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough, and was recently captain of the Norway Under-21s. He could make his senior debut against the All Whites in Oslo on Tuesday.
The Norwegian FA confirmed: “Sebastian Sevronsen is part of the Norwegian national team and he and Sverre Nippan are taking part in today’s training.”
“Players with a particularly difficult schedule have returned home: Alexander Soros, Julian Ryerson, Erling Braut Haaland and Fredrik Bjorkan. Felix Horn Mühle will be away from the team due to an ankle injury.”
Haaland has already scored 21 goals for club and country this season, with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher saying the former Borussia Dortmund striker is already “the greatest goalscorer to have ever played” in England. He said on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday Overtime:
“Honestly, I don’t remember Jimmy Greaves, Dixie Dean and all those players from years ago, but I remember Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Harry Kane and Ian Rush at my club, Liverpool.For me, there’s a difference between a great centre-forward or striker and a goalscorer.
“I think what we’re witnessing now is something we’ve never seen before in our game and we mustn’t forget. This club, up front, scored the goal in Sergio Aguero, one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen. This is on a completely different level from Aguero. He’s the best.”
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