Norway's got talent
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
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With Norway's Eliteserien on a summer break, UEFA.com takes a look at six young up-and-coming players who made a name for themselves with fine performances in the spring.
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Norway is a renowned producer of footballing talent with stars such as Ole Gunnar Solskjær, John Arne Riise and John Carew hailing from its shores. And with the Eliteserien on a summer break, UEFA.com looks at six up and coming players who shone during the spring.
Marcus Pedersen (20, forward, Strømsgodset IF)
With six goals already this season, this small, but aggressive forward has an explosive shot, and has also got the pace to match. As a teenager he had a trial with Liverpool FC and is known to be interesting clubs across Europe.
Jo Inge Berget (19, forward, Strømsgodset IF)
A lanky forward in the mould of Tore André Flo, he can also play as an attacking midfielder. He made his name at FK Lyn before signing a three-year deal at Udinese Calcio in 2008, returning to his previous club on loan last year and being lent to Strømsgodset this season. Berget said: "When I had a trial at Portsmouth, they likened me to Fernando Torres. I liked that."
Birkir Bjarnason (22, midfielder, Viking FK)
Considered a talent for many years, the Icelandic Under-21 international took a step forward on loan at FK Bodø/Glimt in 2008 and this year has started to score regularly for Viking, developing a knack of always being in the right place in front of goal.
Christer Kleiven (22, midfielder/forward, IK Start)
Kleiven can fill in anywhere in midfield and attack, but has made his mark this season with some explosive shooting. A relatively late developer, he is now one of the first names on the Start team sheet and tipped for full international honours.
Ruben Yttergård Jenssen (22, midfielder, Tromsø IL)
A combative and solid central midfielder who has been instrumental in Tromsø's success this season. Not among the quickest, but as a good reader of the game, he uses every opportunity to feed his forwards. Turned down a move to R. Standard de Liège aged 19.
Vadim Demidov (23, defender, Rosenborg BK)
Riga-born with Russian roots – his father was a Soviet handball international who now coaches in Norway – Demidov arrived at Rosenborg as a midfielder but has been transformed into a ball-playing centre-half.
