Many young Norwegian players have been linked with big European clubs in the past, but only a handful have actually earned a dream move and become a success at a higher level.
Marcus Pedersen is one of those young prospects and has already been linked with several Bundesliga and Premier League sides. However, Pedersen appears to have both the ability and will to succeed on a much bigger stage than the Norwegian league.
Pedersen is a hard working, fearless striker who's in his second year of top flight football at the age of 19. His combative style has earned comparisons with England star Wayne Rooney .
Born in Hamar, Norway, he was feted as a future footballing prospect at a very young age. Pedersen joined his local second division club, HamKam and made his first team debut in a friendly at the tender age of 14. By 2006, he had been invited to Liverpool for a trial. In 2007, aged 17, Pedersen made his senior competitive debut for HamKam and the following year he scored his first goal. Pedersen then suffered from injuries, restricting him to only five appearances for HamKam in two years. However, he displayed enough talent to earn a move to Permier Division side Stromsgodest on a free transfer. Â
Pedersen announced his arrival in top flight football in March 2009. Making his Stromsgodest debut against Start, Pedersen hit two goals in a 3-3 draw and hasn't looked back.  Since then he has been a regular and valuable first eleven player. He finished the 2009 season with 10 goals in 24 matches, showing his quality throughout the season.
Pedersen has been selected for Norway's youth teams at every age group, representing his country all the way from under-15 to under-21 level. He has scored 3 goals in 4 appearances for the under-21s and although he hasn't yet been called up to the senior squad, full international recognition cannot be too far away.
The youngster started the 2010 season in very good goalscoring form, forging a dangerous partnership with Jo Inge Berget , another young talent who is on loan from Italian side Udinese. Pedersen scored 5 goals in the first 9 matches of the season for Stromsgodest, making him the second top scorer in Norway's top flight. His range of goals shows the youngster's all round talent and ability – Pedersen has scored in equal measure with his head, in one-on-one situations, on the counter attack, from shots outside the box and more…
Pedersen is a fast striker with a good technique which enables him to make dangerous penetrative runs with the ball at his feet. The front man also has a hammer of a right foot and is a real threat to goal from outside the box. Recently, Pedersen has also used his powerful shot to develop a dangerous free kick, another weapon to his armory.
Like Wayne Rooney , who burst onto the scene at an even younger age, Pedersen is very versatile in his playing style. In addition to his eye-catching and intelligent runs, he can score goals from nowhere, often having first won a tough physical battle. Pedersen is also effective as a lone target man, using his strength and excellent technique to keep possession of the ball while playing with his back to goal.
Similarly to Rooney, Pedersen's acceleration can be deadly when facing goal. Given his great finishing skills in front of goal and strong aerial prowess, he is on his way to becoming a complete player at a young age.
Pedersen still needs to improve his weaker left foot by being more willing to use it. He also has a habit of occasionally losing concentration. Some point out that Pedersen is guilty of perhaps looking for goal too much, when he could otherwise retain possession and link up with team-mates. However, this is surely just the sign of a young, confident and hungry striker who could go on to bigger and better things.