THELO GETS TIPS FROM THE TOP!

Hatter soaks up advice…

By Dave Flett

THELO Aasgaard believes his experience lining up alongside two of the world’s greatest players can now benefit Luton Town in their Championship relegation dogfight.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder – a reported £3m January transfer window signing from Wigan – scored and claimed an assist on his international debut for Norway last month in a 5-0win over Moldova.

Aasgaard operated between Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Manchester City goalscoring phenomenon Erling Haaland in an advanced central midfield role for the Scandinavians and reckons the education he received during the World Cup qualifier will prove advantageous as he attempts to help the Hatters stave off the threat of back-to-back relegations with six 202425 contests left to play.

“Just to get selected in the first place was amazing, so it felt great to get a goal and an assist on my debut,” Aasgaard told The FLP. “It was only ten days away but I feel that I learned so much from being around players like Odegaard and Haaland and seeing what they see e on a football pitch.

“It was a pleasure to play with them and made me appreciate how I can grow as a player and get to that level.”

If Liverpool-born Aasgaard helps the Hatters secure Championship safety in May, his attentions can then switch back to international duty the following month when he’ll be targeting a second cap against Italy.

Despite being one of the game’s traditional superpowers, the Azzurri have failed to qualify for the last two World Cup finals and Aasgaard is confident that Stale Solbakken’s men can claim Group I’s automatic qualifying spot ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali and co.

That would mean Norway making their first finals since 1998 with Aasgaard adding:

“When you look at the players in our squad compared to theirs, then I don’t see any reason why we can’t finish above them.

Heart

“I’ve been playing for Norway from under-16s to under-21s so it’s very close to my heart and it would be immense – not just for me but for my family – to get to the country’s first World Cup finals in 28 years. It would mean everything and it’s what I am working towards.”

First, though, all of Aasgaard’s attention is focussed on four defining weeks for his club.

Ahead of yesterday’s home meeting with promotion-chasing Leeds, the Bedfordshire side had accumulated seven points from a possible nine, including

back-to-back away triumphs after losing 15 of their previous 16 winless outings on the road.

Those victories came at relegation rivals Cardiff and Hull, meaning Luton, second bottom going into this weekend, had taken an encouraging 19 points from a possible 24 against the five teams that were sitting directly above them.

Two of those clubs – Stoke and Derby – will host the Hatters on Tuesday night and Good Friday respectively, with Aasgaard reasoning: “We can take massive belief from that record, but not just when we are playing the teams in and around us, because we’ve also shown we can perform against good quality sides. We were unlucky to only draw 0-0with Middlesbrough before the international break.”

TOP GUNN: Martin Odegaard

Aasgaard was part of the Wigan side, meanwhile, that tumbled out of English football’s second tier two seasons ago but feels the composure instilled by boss Matt Bloomfield, who also arrived at Kenilworth Road in January having left behind a League One promotion bid with Wycombe, can prove decisive this term.

“I’ve been in this position with Wigan and know what it’s like,” he added. “You have to learn how to manage games and control your emotions.

“At Hull (a 1-0win last Saturday), we went about everything in a calm manner and, when we analysed the match, one of the positives we identified was how we stayed level-headed. a real belief that we will be We have okay.”

IN GOOD COMPANY: Thelo Aasgaard and Erling Haaland, left, during Norway training and, Inset, Aasgaard celebrates scoring against Moldova with the Man City star

PICTURE: Alamy