Might get a call-up to the Norwegian national team soon;
http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/08/27/sport/landslaget/fotball/drillo/vm-kvalifisering/23138168/
Egil Olsen is tempted to call in a United-reserve;
-"He got a great physique and speed"
John Carew might have played his last game for the national team, and Moahammed Abdellaoue is more often then not on the injury-list.
The coach himself is now open to bring in Joshua King whos current club is Manchester United, despite him currently being matched on a reserve level.
-"He got certain qualities that we miss, like his extreme pace. It might that it's just a matter of time until he gets a call from me, and a chance to play for the senior national team. It's difficult to say how soon, but he's very close at the moment."
Does King remind you a little bit about a young John Carew?
-"Absolutely! He reminds me of him, with his physique and pace. I think he's actually even quicker then Carew was at that age."
Is it enough that he's only getting matches for Uniteds reserves?
-"That's a good question, but I cant say if it's competetive enough. I actually dont know at the moment."
Praised by the opposition
King has become a central player for the Norwegian U-21 National team, which is where he's done enough to impress Olsen. The 20-year old has also been out on loan on two seperate occations, Preston and Hull, where he showed glimpses of his quality.
However his loan-spell at Borussia Mönchengladbach has to be called a disappointment, and King hardly got any games at all.
-"I'm watching him with the youth-team (National side), and he's been really impressive. He's been destroying a few full-backs."
King is primarily a striker, but he's been utilized on the wings aswell. On the 14th of August he really shone in a 2-2 game against Austria where even the opposition praised him after the game.
"Their rightback is playing at the top level in Austria, and he said that he's never faced a player like Josh. His top level is simply through the roof. But if he's to play as a winger on an international scale, he has to be able to put in a shift in defense aswell as well as going forward. He's at a top level going forward, but he has to be a part of the team defensively aswell", according to the U21-coach Per Joar Hansen.
He's communicating with Egil Olsen all the time about which youth-players might be able to make the step up to the senior team.
-"It's all about performances. If he performs well, he'll get his chance. He's not typically Norwegian in his style of play, like a huge ability to get in behind the defence, he's strong and quick and he's able to take on a man. He's also able to play both up top and out on the wings, which is always great for a coach."