The international break can bring a nice change for footballers who aren’t getting the minutes they want at club level.
One of those right now would be Stefan Johansen, as far as the Norwegian media are concerned.
The Fulham midfielder has only picked up 41 minutes of Premier League football so far this season, but he did play the whole match in the EFL Cup against Exeter last week.
Last season Johansen started 46 Championship games for Fulham, then the Cottagers recruited heavily in midfield during the summer and it’s unlikely he’s going to be more than a back-up player unless something changes.
Norway’s Nettavisen say the 27 year old is experiencing a ‘lack of confidence’ at Fulham, but the country’s national manager Lars Lagerbäck is standing by his captain.
Lagerbäck has been quoted by Nettavisen as saying: “If he starts the match (against Cyprus) he is the captain, there is no doubt.
He got 90 minutes in the league cup and, as I said, I consider it so that all 23 of the squad are appropriate to start.”
Insisting he isn’t concerned with the lack of minutes being handed out to his skipper at the moment, the national manager further explained that, from what he’s seen, everyone in the squad is in top condition and ready to be picked.