Q Radio Sport
Northern Ireland will be facing one of the best strikers in Europe on Wednesday night in Erling Haaland, according to full-back Conor McLaughlin.
The Borussia Dortmund forward may still only be 20, but McLaughlin believes he already ranks alongside the likes of Robert Lewandowski after exploding on to the scene in the past two years - and bagging his first international hat-trick at the weekend against Romania.
McLaughlin did not feature in Northern Ireland's 5-1 home defeat to Norway last month, when Haaland scored two and created two more, but saw enough from the sidelines.
"He's right up there," McLaughlin said when asked where Haaland ranks. "He's probably one of the fastest players I have seen live, his finishing as well.
"When I went back to my club after the last game, I said to a couple of the lads, him and Lewandowski, when we played against him for Poland, they are two of the best strikers I have seen."
Conor McLaughlin - wary of the threat posed.
Sunday's Windsor Park defeat against Austria was a sixth in seven outings for Northern Ireland in the Nations League, so Ian Baraclough could look to make changes to his team.
Baraclough has no reported injury or suspension concerns, though he may be tempted to rotate his side. Gavin Whyte, Jordan Jones and Kyle Lafferty started against Austria, but all three of those could make way in Oslo.
Conor Washington is expected to lead the line, hoping to add to his record of four goals in 23 international appearances.
A Republic of Ireland player has withdrawn from the squad after recording a second positive coronavirus test in three days just hours after receiving a negative result.
The Football Association of Ireland had announced its intention to launch an investigation after the player in question tested positive on Sunday but negative on Monday.
A second positive test in three days has forced him to be withdrawn from the squad and he will have to self-isolate for 10 days as per government guidelines.
The player, who has not been named, will miss Ireland's Nations League fixture with Finland on Wednesday night.
FT: Toals @CoAntrimFA Shield
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) October 13, 2020
Quarter-finals
CRUES CRUSHED@larnefc 4@CrusadersFC 0@cliftonvillefc 7
Gormley x4@dundelaofficial 2@CarrickRangers 0@OfficialBlues 2@Glentoran 0@ArdsFC1900 0
Straight to pens at Oval #ToalsCAS #CountyAntrimShield pic.twitter.com/EltXwoACSa
Locally, Larne have crushed Crusaders 4-0 in their County Antrim Shield quarter-final at Inver Park.
Holders Cliftonville hosted Dundela on Tuesday night and hammered them 7-2 with Joe Gormley grabbing four goals.
Linfield had a 2-0 win away to Carrick and Glentoran edged past Ards in a sudden-death penalty shoot-out at the Oval.
It finished scoreless after 90 minutes and went straight to the spot kicks with no extra-time.
Meanwhile, Glens striker Paul O'Neill hit a spectacular winner as the Northern Ireland under-21s beat Ukraine 1-0 in their Euro qualifier in Ballymena.
🎥 FT: #U21EURO
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) October 13, 2020
Northern Ireland 1
Ukraine 0@pauloneill26 with this stunning overhead kick winner in Ballymena👇3 goals in 2 @NorthernIreland u21 games for the @Glentoran striker who's just been named #NIFL Young Player of the Year. 🔥 🔥 🔥 #GAWA pic.twitter.com/SgRGRugFb9