Northern Ireland v Norway

NORWAY SQUAD

Words Liam Blackburn

GOALKEEPERS

ORJAN NYLAND ASTON VILLA

RUNE JARSTEIN HERTHA BERLIN

SONDRE ROSSBACH ODD

Age Caps

35 65

Age Caps 0 Goals 0

24

Age Caps

29 28

Goals 0

Goals 0

The most experienced member of Lars Lagerback's squad made his maiden Norway appearance in 2007 and was first choice for most of the last decade. Jarstein, who has spent the past seven years in the Bundesliga, played in both of his country's most recent games in Belfast in 2012 and 2017.

Nyland joined Aston Villa during their 2018-19 Championship season and was first choice until rupturing his Achilles that December. He played in seven Premier League games for the Villains last term. Won his first cap against Scotland in 2013 and started Norway's 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in Oslo in 2017.

The son of a former Norway international, Rossbach has spent the past five-and- a-half seasons as the number one for Eliteserien side Odd in his native country. Represented Norway at various youth age groups, and won 28 caps for the Under-21s, though he is yet to make an appearance for the senior team.

DEFENDERS

KRISTOFFER AJER CELTIC

HAITAM ALEESAMI UNATTACHED

OMAR ELABDELLAOUI GALATASARAY

Age Caps

22 14

Age Caps

29 28

Age Caps

28 44

Goals 0

Goals 0

Goals 0

Ajer established himself in the Celtic team under Brendan Rodgers and has been a regular in their past three championship- winning sides. Prior to that he became the youngest captain in the history of Norway's top flight when he skippered Start at 16. Made his Norway debut in 2018.

A left-back of Moroccan descent who played for Amiens in France last term after spells in Norway, Sweden and Italy, where he spent three seasons with Palermo. Aleesami made his first senior Norway appearance in 2015 against Malta and he played in nine of the 10 Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Elabdellaoui is a right-sided player who spent time in Manchester City's academy, though he never played a senior game for the club. He has plenty of Champions League experience from his time with Greek giants Olympiacos and he joined Galatasaray in August. He played in all 10 of Norway's Euro 2020 qualifiers.

RUBEN GABRIELSEN TOULOUSE

EVEN HOVLAND ROSENBORG

MARTIN LINNES GALATASARAY

Age Caps 0 Goals 0

28

Age Caps

31 28

Age Caps

28 23

Goals 0

Goals 1

Gabrielsen came into this international window uncapped at senior level, having been an unused substitute in nine matches. Won league titles with Molde in 2014 and 2019 and played in both legs of the Norwegian club's Europa League qualifier against Glenavon in 2018.

The experienced Hovland, who won his first cap in 2012, started for Norway when they made their most recent trip to Belfast in 2017. A two-time title winner with Molde, he is now back in his homeland after a spell in Germany with Nurnberg between 2014 and 2017.

A versatile player, Linnes is back in the squad having not featured in any of Norway's Euro 2020 qualifiers. He came off the bench in the Norwegians' 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in October 2017. The former Molde man has spent the past five years in Turkey with Galatasaray.

BIRGER MELING NIMES

TORE REGINIUSSEN ROSENBORG

JONAS SVENSSON AZ ALKMAAR

Age Caps

25 11

Age Caps

34 29

Age Caps

27 17

Goals 0

Goals 4

Goals 0

Meling is another defensive member of this squad plying his trade in France and he scored on his debut for Ligue 1 club Nimes in August. He started the 2017 win over Northern Ireland having made his international debut only three days earlier in an 8-0 victory over San Marino.

The oldest outfield member of Lagerback's current squad, veteran central defender Reginiussen has played for Tromso, Schalke, Lecce, OB (Odense) and current club Rosenborg during his career. He won his maiden cap in 2008 and scored his first international goal against the Republic of Ireland later that year.

Svensson was a regular with former team Rosenborg, becoming the youngest player to make 200 appearances in the club's history when he reached the milestone shortly after his 23rd birthday. Now turning out for AZ in the Eredivisie, he will hope to add to the senior caps he began accruing in 2016.

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