Erling Haaland captains Norway with Odegaard still 'a long way' from playing

Martin Odegaard, who twisted his left ankle on September 9 in Oslo during a match against Austria in the Nations League, was unsurprisingly absent from the squad who will host Slovenia in Oslo on October 10 before travelling to Linz to face Austria three days later. The 25-year-old's injury will also affect Arsenal, who play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"He (Odegaard) is a long way from being able to play," the Norwegian FA said in a statement. "But he may turn up during the preparations to be with the team," it added. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said last month that scans showed "there was some damage, especially in one of the ligaments in the ankle". Last Tuesday, Arteta said "it will be a matter of weeks" before Odegaard returns.

After two matches, Norway are second in Group B3 of the Nations League behind Slovenia.