Posted by By Osasu Obayiuwana on
Lyn Oslo coach Henning Berg said their quest for the Norwegian championship will be strengthened by John Mikel Obi's return to the club.
Lyn Oslo coach Henning Berg said their quest for the Norwegian championship will be strengthened by John Mikel Obi's return to the club.
The Nigeria midfielder, who won the silver ball at the World Youth Championship in Holland, had been absent from the club for over three months, following a contractual dispute.
Obi claimed he was forced to sign a contract with Manchester United, even though he prefers to play for English champions Chelsea.
Berg said the return of their three other Nigerian players - Emmanuel Sarki, Chinedu Ogbuke and Ezekiel Bala, will provide them will new options in the tight race for the Norwegian title.
With just seven matches left in the league, third-placed Lyn are four points behind leaders Start and play their next home game against Odd on Sunday.
"They're good players and nice people and it's nice to have them back at the club," Berg, the former Manchester United player, told BBC Sport on Thursday.
"We have a game on Sunday, so we'll see if they're fit enough to play.
"But I can only play two non-European Union in one game.
"Now that they're back, they're able to challenge for a place in the team, like all the other players at the club.
"It might include Mikel but it might not," Berg said.
The Lyn coach said the four players have been impressive at the two training sessions they have attended so far.
"They trained twice since they came back and they look okay."
Berg acknowledged Obi's talent but said the club had managed without him and the other Nigerian players.
"He's a very good player but we've done well without him.
"As a manager and a coach, I could only think about the players that were available at the time.
"Where Mikel goes after Lyn is another part of the story but I hope that he does well for us."