'Rest is best': Haaland set to skip Netherlands friendly following demanding season

Haaland completed the full 90 minutes during Manchester City's 2-0 triumph over Arsenal in the League Cup on Sunday, which represents his 48th outing of the campaign. Since the season kicked off, he has only missed six fixtures across club and international commitments.

Norway's head coach Ståle Solbakken shared with TV2 that Haaland will sit out Friday's encounter in Amsterdam: "Taking into consideration the significant pressure Erling has faced over an extended time, we have determined that allowing him the recovery he requires at this point is the most beneficial option for everybody."

The Norwegian side, having earned qualification for their initial FIFA World Cup appearance since 1998, have two exhibition matches scheduled for March, including a clash with Switzerland on March 31st in Oslo.