Erling Haaland will lead Norway against Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday night having, by all accounts, been entirely unaffected by the news that has dominated English football: Manchester City being found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules across a nine-year period.

Norway's head coach, Ståle Solbakken, said "everything's fine" with the striker, who has scored three goals in his past two matches for his country. "[He's been] very good, scoring goals," Solbakken said. "He missed one chance against Portugal that he usually doesn't miss and that's the only thing I can say negative, because he's on fire."

The Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer said Haaland has displayed the same personality as normal amid the noise surrounding his club. "Ever since I met him he's been a guy that brings a lot of energy and joy to the group and that's the biggest compliment I always give Erling," Ajer said. "When people ask about him, he hasn't changed one bit since the first time I met him, even though he's the biggest star on the planet right now. He's been exactly the same the last few days as well, which is not a surprise for me."

A report by BBC Sport on the eve of the match made the same point, stating that the Norway camp he has been with since the news broke found the City verdict had not changed the striker, who is facing Wales for the first time since the Premier League's confirmation of the financial rule breaches.

Craig Bellamy said he did not expect Haaland to be bothered by his club's situation at Cardiff City Stadium, praising the Manchester City forward in glowing terms ahead of the Nations League fixture.

"I don't think he'll be distracted, the guy's a machine," the Wales head coach said. "Have you seen his record at international level? He's brilliant. If you love football, you have to appreciate him … You see certain moments in certain sports. Remember the Jonah Lomu factor [in rugby union]? We're coming through the Haaland factor at this present moment."

Wales, chasing their first win since last November, will hope their defence can prove the one force capable of quietening a striker Bellamy considers football's current defining figure.