Arsenal's skipper, Martin Ødegaard, has stated that he has 'listened to my body' and returned home after being ruled out of international duty for Norway. Ødegaard started for the first time since August in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Chelsea following an ankle injury. The 25-year-old traveled to Oslo for Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Kazakhstan but will continue his rehabilitation work in London.
'After discussions with the medical staff at the national team, we have unfortunately concluded that the situation is not good enough to play these matches,' Ødegaard, the Norway captain, informed the Norwegian Football Association's website. 'I've been through a long training period and when you haven't practiced football in the last nine weeks, it's natural not to be 100% yet. I need to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good shape. The hope has always been to be able to play the national matches and if I hadn't played on Sunday it would have been out of the question to participate anyway. It's a very bad feeling to miss these games, I love playing for Norway and with this team.'
The Norway team doctor, Ola Sand, mentioned that Ødegaard had sustained a 'complicated' ankle injury and required more time to be 'match-ready again'. The manager, Stale Solbakken, added: 'He has had a strong desire to take part in the matches, but we cannot risk his health.' On Monday, Ødegaard's club-mates Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were among eight withdrawals from the England squad.
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