AFC Bournemouth frontman Joshua King has set his sights on becoming Norway’s all-time record goalscorer.
King is expected to lead the line when Norway complete their European Championship qualifying campaign against Faroe Islands and Malta.
The 27-year-old is currently Cherries’ top marksman in the Premier League, having netted 45 times in 147 top-flight appearances.
Born in Oslo and raised in Romsås, a suburb on the east side of the capital, King is targeting ending his career at the top of his country’s goal charts.
King has scored 16 goals in 44 games for Norway and needs another 18 to pass Jørgen Juve’s tally of 33, set between 1928 and 1937.
Juve, who played as a striker for Lyn, skippered the national team to Olympic bronze medals in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
King is the second-highest Norwegian goalscorer in Premier League history behind Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (91).
And he will be hoping to add to his tally of international goals when Lars Lagerbäck’s team host Group F strugglers Faroe Islands tomorrow and Malta on Monday.
King, who has scored four times in qualifying, including three penalties, told afcb.co.uk: “Any player would prefer to score from open play but they all count.
“You always want to score for your club and country and I’m trying to get the record for Norway.
“It’s 33 and I’m on 16 now. I’m 27 and have a minimum of four years left in me at international level.
“Every time I go away, I try to do my best for my country and score goals. They rely on me to score goals and create chances and I enjoy that pressure.
“People say I’m the second highest Norwegian goalscorer in the Premier League behind Ole but I don’t think you should get any credit if you’re second – it’s either first or nothing.
“My aim is to be the top scorer in Norwegian football history. I’ve been in the national team for seven years and have missed a lot of games.
“I’ve played 44 games and it probably could have been closer to 60 if I hadn’t been injured. If I could get 20 goals in the next three or four years, it would take me to the top of the list and that’s what I want.”
Callum Wilson, Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny will all be hoping to feature when their respective countries take to the international stage today.
Wilson is in the England squad for their European Championship qualifier against Montenegro at Wembley (7.45pm), while Travers is in the Republic of Ireland squad for a friendly against New Zealand in Dublin (7.45pm).
Kilkenny will be hoping to help Republic of Ireland strengthen their position at the top of Group One when they face Armenia in Yerevan in a European Under-21 Championship qualifier.
Aaron Ramsdale could be in action tomorrow when England face Albania in a European Under-21 Championship qualifier in Shkoder. Cherries team-mates Lloyd Kelly and Sam Surridge have both withdrawn from the squad.
Jefferson Lerma, who missed Cherries’ defeat at Newcastle due to suspension, could feature in a friendly when Colombia take on Peru in Miami.
