Man City star Erling Haaland sent home by Norway early as statement released

Erling Haaland is set to return to Manchester City ahead of schedule, leaving the Norway camp before their friendly against New Zealand.

The 25-year-old striker was in fine form during Saturday's 5-0 victory over Israel, netting a hat-trick and moving Norway closer to their first World Cup appearance since 1998. Despite missing two penalties early on, Haaland still managed to bag a treble, taking his impressive tally for Norway to 51 goals in just 46 caps.

However, with only a friendly left to round off their international week, Haaland is among several players to have been given permission to head back to their clubs early. City fans have more to look forward to as Oscar Bobb could potentially face New Zealand, and 18-year-old midfielder Sverre Nypan has received his first call-up to the senior squad.

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Nypan, who joined City from Rosenborg for £12.5million this summer, has been impressing while on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough and recently captained Norway Under-21s. He could make his senior debut against the All Whites in Oslo on Tuesday.

The Norwegian FA confirmed: "Sebastian Sebulonsen is in the Norwegian national team squad, he and Sverre Nypan are participating in today's training.

"Players with particularly tight match schedules are returning home: Alexander Sørloth, Julian Ryerson, Erling Braut Haaland and Fredrik Bjørkan. Felix Horn Myhre is leaving the squad due to a sore ankle."

Haaland has already scored 21 goals for club and country this season and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said the former Borussia Dortmund striker is already the 'greatest goalscorer to ever play' in England. He said on Sky Sports' Super Sunday - Extra Time: “I think we’re watching the greatest goalscorer to ever play in English football.

“I honestly can’t remember Jimmy Greaves, Dixie Dean and all those players from years ago. But I think of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Harry Kane and Ian Rush for my club Liverpool. There’s a difference for me 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 don’t forget, this is a club where the goalscorer beforehand was Sergio Aguero, one of the greatest we’ll ever see. This is on a completely different level to Aguero. He’s the best.”

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