By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
All eyes will be on Edvin Austbø tomorrow when Norway Under-21s complete their European Championship qualifying campaign against Israel.
The young West Ham winger started last week’s 6-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, registering an assist before being substituted after 85 minutes. Norway have already qualified as group winners, but this remains an important opportunity for Austbø to impress.
The £15m summer signing came on as a substitute and scored in the 87th minute, helping West Ham win 3-0. He also registered an assist for Mohamadou Kanté’s stoppage-time goal in a game which should have kickstarted his Hammers career.
Unfortunately, he flopped in his first full start for West Ham then was dropped from the squad following a few unwise comments to Norwegian journalists.
Austbø deserves his West Ham chance
With Manor Solomon struggling with back spasms and reportedly in considerable pain, I would start Austbø against QPR on Friday.
He is young, fit and does not carry Solomon’s current injury concerns. More importantly, Austbø needs an opportunity to impress and genuinely press his claim for a regular starting place.
he’s served his stint on the naughty step and tomorrow’s international could prove to be the ideal audition.
He is young and ambicious He never said he wasn’t happy with us he said he wanted bigger club later on How many footballer have not thought or done the same Also if it happens we could earn a pretty penny so I don’t really see what all the fuss is about
Seriously? He was dropped for a few unwise comments? What the hell is Nuno’s mental age? Even if you agree that his comments were “unwise”, (I would say “honest”) if you can’t be unwise when you are young, when can you be. No wonder youngsters struggle to make the grade under this coach, he focuses on all the wrong things. The fact is that if Austbo does become a success, he won’t stay at a feeder club, he will be snapped up “by a bigger club”.