Hugo Vetlesen Replaces Injured Fredrik Aursnes in Norway Squad, Digi Mart USA News: Fredrik Aursnes was left out of Benfica’s squad for their away match against Estrela Amadora on Sunday evening, a major surprise to many. Portuguese newspapers O Jogo and A Bola reported that the Norwegian midfielder has a muscle injury in his right thigh and would miss his national team assignment with Norway, which begins in two days.
The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) confirmed on Sunday evening that Aursnes will not join the national squad and that Club Brugge midfielder Hugo Vetlesen has been called up. Vetlesen has not played for the national team since 2024 and has six caps and one goal for Norway.
This season, Vetlesen has contributed eight goal involvements, six goals and two assists, in 18 matches for Club Brugge. In Benfica’s squad for Sunday’s match, Claudio Echeverri replaces Aursnes, while Andreas Schjelderup is on the bench.
Aursnes, from Hareid, has played 12 matches and scored two goals for Benfica this season. Norway face Wales at Ullevaal on Saturday, November 14, in the Nations League, and three days later host Denmark in Copenhagen.
In the previous national team window, Aursnes started all four matches for Norway. Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup is included in the squad, as expected.
Goalkeepers: Ørjan Håskjold Nyland (RB Leipzig), Egil Selvik (Brest), Sander Tangvik (Hamburg).
Defenders and midfielders: Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Odin Bjørtuft (Bodø/Glimt), Torbjørn Heggem (Bologna), Eivind Helland (Bologna), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Olympiakos), Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), David Møller Wolfe (Hamburg), Leo Østigård (Genoa), Thelo Aasgaard (Anderlecht), Hugo Vetlesen (Club Brugge), Patrick Berg (Bodø/Glimt), Sander Berge (Fulham), Felix Horn Myhre (West Bromwich), Oscar Bobb (Fulham), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig), Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica), Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal).
Forwards: Erling Braut Haaland (Manchester City), Jørgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace), Alexander Sørloth (Atlético Madrid).
