King about his future at Bournemouth: Not trying to make headlines

Joshua King is uncertain where he will continue his career after Bournemouth’s relegation in the Premier League.

If he joins a Championship league team, 46 games and a far less luxurious experience awaits him than in the elite English Premier League.

King has one season left on his contract with Bournemouth. A lot happened to Bournemouth this summer. First, the team was relegated down from the Premier League. Then manager Eddie Howe resigned.

“I am at the national team training and focusing on these two matches. I do not know what will happen in the future. Now my focus is on the national team and the matches on Friday and Monday. I will not comment anymore and try to make headlines. I am in the situation I am in.” says the striker.

– Only good news
On Tuesday, King met at a press conference at the national Ullevaal Stadium together with Norway team manager Lars Lagerbäck and national team captain Omar Elabdellaoui.

On Friday, UEFA’s Nation’s League for Norway starts at home against Austria. Three days later there will be an away match against Northern Ireland.

The combination of Erling Braut Haaland, Alexander Sørloth and King is the striker trio with the most goal-potential top trio for the national team ever. The Oslo-born King was asked if he fears for his place as he has two solid challengers.

“I do not think one should complain about having such a “problem”. I can’t remember the last time Norway had so many good players. Everyone must give their all in every match and fight for their place. I’ve done that in Bournemouth and elsewhere. It is only good news to have so many good players” King said.

Boost
He believes the Norwegian team has taken great strides under Lars Lagerbäck’s leadership and has faith winning six of six possible points in the upcoming Nation’s League matches.

“These are very important matches in a qualification with the opportunity to get to the World Cup. It is important to start strong and try to win six points. I have great faith that we can do that”, says King, pointing out some reasons for their improvement.

“The team morale is absolutely fantastic. In the past, we weren’t as close. Everyone is friends, we thrive together and joke with each other. And there is great discipline on the field.

Ahead of the matches that await, the Norwegian national team players are in quarantine at the player’s hotel. Time passe slowly in such circumstances.

“Omar and I have started playing chess. Who would have believed that?” said King jokingly.

Relegated
King joined Bournemouth in 2015. He was close to a transfer to Manchester United this winter, but the clubs did not agree on a transfer fee.

King has scored 48 goals in 161 appearances in Bournemouth. He was not present when the team started training for the next season August 17, but has instead trained with the Norwegian team Stabæk.

“It did not make any sense for me to go back to England and be in quarantine, and then come here and be in quarantine. I also had a baby in April that I had not seen in ten weeks, so I was allowed to stay Norway until the gathering”, King said.

On the first National team, King has made 17 goals in 46 games. During the autumn, he is expected to join the “50 club” for Norway.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today