Haaland hits hat-trick and Walker starts for England

The Manchester City striker made it 22 goals for club and country this season with his third hat-trick after hitting trebles against Ipswich and West Ham for the Blues.

Captaining the side, Haaland put Norway ahead in the 24th minute when he was the first to react when the ball ran loose after a good save from Kazakhstan keeper Stas Pokalitov.

A second came 13 minutes later when he found space at the back post to loop a precise header into the top corner.

Haaland added his third in the second half with a neat low right-foot finish from the edge of the box and extended his record as Norway’s record goalscorer to 38 in total.

He was replaced in the 85th minute by Colin Rosler, the son of City great Uwe Rosler.

It was a special moment for the 24-year-old former City Academy player, who was named after City legend Colin Bell, as he made his debut for his country.

Meanwhile at Wembley, Kyle Walker won his 93rd cap for England in a 5-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.

In a goalless first-half, the City defender came as close as anyone to opening the scoring with a header from a corner that flashed wide.

But the game turned early in the second half when Liam Scales gave away a penalty for a foul on Jude Bellingham, earning a second yellow card.

Harry Kane scored from the spot before Anthony Gordon and Connor Gallagher quickly added goals to stretch England’s lead against the 10 men.

Walker was replaced in the 62nd minute by Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who becomes the latest player from the Manchester City Academy to represent England.

And the Stockport-born defender scored an 80th minute header to make it five after Jarrod Bowen had extended the Three Lions’ lead.

The win means England top League B Group 2 and are promoted back to the top tier ahead of Thomas Tuchel taking charge in the New Year as the replacement for interim manager Lee Carsley.