MOHAMED Elyounoussi is ready to play through the pain barrier for Norway in the Uefa Nations League today - following an ankle injury caused by a Saints teammate.

The Norwegian says the reason he was sidelined for the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool was because of a challenge he received in training.

Despite still being in discomfort from the tackle he received at Staplewood, Elyounoussi insists that he is willing to play through the pain.

During the build up to Norway’s game against Slovenia tonight, he said: “It’s a bad ankle that’s not quite stable, it hurts to shoot and run.

“But it is a pain that I have taught myself to accept.

“I’m able to train with the pain, it is fine.

“If it hurts on Saturday, I’m just taking painkillers.

“I will bite the pain, I sacrifice for my country.”

Speaking about the challenge that caused the injury during a Saints training session, Elyounoussi said: “He came in from the side and hit me in the middle of the leg.

“The foot was stuck in the ground and it hurt very much.

“But I do not think he went consciously to hurt me.”

Elyounoussi joined Saints in the summer from Basel in a £16m deal and has gone on to make six appearances since his arrival.

He was signed by Mark Hughes as a replacement for Dusan Tadic but is yet to make his mark at St Mary’s.

And despite the injury, the midfielder returned to first team action when he was recalled to Saints’ starting 11 in the 2-0 loss to Wolves last month.

This was enough to earn him a call up to the Norwegian national team for their UEFA Nations League fixtures.

His Norway side got off to a quick start in League C Group 3 with a 2-0 win over Cyprus before being defeated by Bulgaria.

They are currently tied in second place but face bottom of the table Slovenia tonight, which Elyounoussi is expected to start, before taking on Bulgaria next Tuesday.