– It’s clear that Ørjan has a very important choice in front of him now, emphasized national team manager Ståle Solbakken.

Solbakken’s first choice goalkeeper, Ørjan Håskjold Nyland, is without a club from June 30 as his contract with German powerhouse RB Leipzig was not renewed.

Nyland is thus in the exact same situation as last summer. He left Reading after his contract expired, and did not sign for a new club until October, when RB Leipzig signed him.

Now the national team boss has asked Nyland to find an employer early, and says he has spoken to the goalkeeper about it.

– It’s not just a matter of choosing the right club, but he also has to choose early. I think he has spent too long choosing in the hope that maybe something better will come along. “I’ve talked to him about it, that he has to emphasize playing time and picking early,” Solbakken said.

– A tradition

The national team manager confirmed that it was Nyland who was guarding the home ground in Saturday’s crucial European Championship qualifier against Scotland. Nyland has 44 caps for Norway and has played 16 of the last 17 caps.

– We are very confident that Ørjan is a solid goalkeeper, but there is no doubt that with more playing time and a more balanced rhythm, there will be greater prerequisites to perform, said Solbakken.

He likened him to a former national team goalkeeper:

– It’s a tradition: Erik Thorstvedt and Frode Grodås rarely played club games for some time, but came back and played good international games.

Optimistic

Nyland himself said he saw the club’s situation as quite bright, although he would like to play more.

– It’s been a good year. It’s a good international game, and I’ve been able to prove myself in a pretty good league, although of course there could be more games. I can also take part in winning the gold cup. In that sense, it was a positive year.

Nyland got a total of three club games for RB Leipzig, and his appearances have been sporadic: The first came in October last year, the second in the cup in January and the last in the final round of the league on May 27.

In the same period, he played more international matches than club matches.

Where the journey will continue is currently uncertain. The 32-year-old, who has played at Hødd, Molde, Ingolstadt and Aston Villa, said that he had received several offers, but that was still an overall assessment.

– It’s not just me who’s important. I also have a family that is part of the burden and also have to play solitaire. They should have fun, said Nyland, who has a wife and children.

– There are many things that need to be done. Kindergarten, school and possible job opportunities. But it will work, he said.

Nyland and Norway performed poorly in the EC qualifiers for next summer’s championships. The Norwegian national team started with a defeat and a draw respectively when they visited Spain and Georgia. Now two very important international matches against Scotland and Cyprus await.