Friday Football Tips: Take Thorstvedt to score in Turkey

Turkey v Norway
Friday 8 October 19:45 kick-off

It's crunch time in Group G as Norway face Turkey in Istanbul with a two-point advantage over their hosts and looking to keep pace with the Netherlands in top spot.

Stale Solbakken's men have been excellent so far and have matched the Dutch stride for stride with four wins, one draw and one defeat to both sit on 13 points.

Turkey are just two points further back but will see this as a great chance to leapfrog Norway as star man Erling Haaland misses out through injury.

It's a huge blow for a Norway side looking to make the World Cup for just the fourth time and the first since France 98 - given Haaland has bagged five of their 12 goals in qualifying so far.

Turkey got a 6-1 hiding by the Netherlands in their last game, but they did enjoy a fine 3-0 victory away in Norway earlier in qualifying - with Watford Ozan Tufan scoring twice.

Haaland's injury is just the start though with a host of players missing this big game on both sides including at the heart of Turkey's defence, which will open it up for more goals. Turkey's games so far have seen more goals than any other team in qualifying with 29 in their six.

Norway are not only without Haaland but also Johsua King and Alexander Sorloth so although we fancy goals we have to look at some unusual suspects, and it's Kristian Thorstvedt who is of interest as he could well end up leading the line with all the absentees.

He's got two goals and an assist so far in qualifying and the more advanced role he could be playing isn't reflected in his price of 5.79/2 to score anytime in Istanbul.

Turkey have conceded plenty of late so the chances will be there, and backing Thorstvedt here might just get us ahead of the game with a slightly new position for him expected.