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Bjørn Maars Johnsen won’t be joining other Scandinavian-American dual nationals Aron Johannsson and Mix Diskerud on the field for the U.S. Men’s National Team. The striker, who plies his trade with Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premier League, played in 24 games scoring six goals in the 2016/2017 season. Johnsen was born in the US but developed as a player in the Norwegian Tippeligaen with club Vålerenga and has accepted a call up to represent the Northern European nation.
The 6’5” big man would have had a difficult time breaking into the USMNT with Jozy Altidore, Bobby Wood, Clint Dempsey, and Jordan Morris all ahead of him on the depth chart. Perhaps he would have gotten a look for the Gold Cup but Arena would have had a difficult time choosing him over his top strikers for a crucial home qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago and then a difficult trip to Mexico City.
The 25 year old striker will represent Norway against the Czech Republic on June 10. They sit in fifth in the UEFA World Cup qualifying with three points in group C.