Johan Elmander hhas been given a new lease of life according to Sweden teammate and world class striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Elmander struggled to get into the Galatasaray first team with the arrival of Didier Drogba, he also struggled with a thigh injury that plagued his playing time.
Elmander has signed a season long loan deal at Premier League outift Norwich City, Ibrahimovic believes that his Swedish strike partner’s career has been revitalised.
“He is eager to play given what he went through in Galatasaray,” said Ibrahimovic, who will lead the line for the Swedes in their World Cup qualifier against Ireland this evening. “Now it feels like he’s been revamped.
“I know myself how it feels when you change clubs.
“You just want to get out there and play and get the best out of yourself at what you are good at.”
Elmander and Ibrahimovic are the first choice strike partnership for Sweden and the pair combined well in Sweden’s 4-2 win in a friendly against Norway where Ibrahimovic scored an impressive hat-trick.
“The partnership between us felt good, very good,” added Ibrahimovic. “It worked well between us against Norway. He did not score but ran a lot and we communicated a lot.”
The two are likely to pair up again against the Irish as both teams desperately search for a win in the hopes of a play-off spot with Germany leading Group C.
James Moss – @JMoss_13
