Egil Olsen Names Norway Squad For South Africa Friendly

March 18, 2009

Norway have named an 18-man squad for next week’s friendly international against Bafana Bafana, including the former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, now playing at Roma in Italy’s Serie A.

John-Arne Riise in action. Photo: Wikepedia.

But they will be without their top striker John Carew, who is being excused by Norway coach Egil Olsen for the match at Rustenburg on March 28 as he has been battling with a back injury and hamstring problems in recent months.

The tall 29-year-old striker, whose father comes from the Gambia in west Africa, scored at the weekend in the English Premier League for Aston Villa against Tottenham Hotspur.

Instead, Carew will join up with his Norwegian colleagues when they play a second friendly match on April 1 at home to Finland – the side coached by former Bafana boss Stuart Baxter.

There are seven foreign-based players in the Norway squad, including Morten Gamst Pedersen, who plays alongside Aaron Mokoena and Benni McCarthy at Blackburn Rovers.

Norway have also named Mohammed Abdellaoue, who is a striker whose parents moved to Norway from Morocco. He has been linked with a possible move to Manchester United.

Norway Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rune Almenning Jarstein (Rosenborg), Jon Knudsen (Stabæk)

Defenders: Trond Erik Bertelsen (Viking Stavanger), Brede Hangeland (Fulham, England), Tom Hogli, Tore Reginiussen (both Tromsø), John Arne Riise (Roma, Italy), Kjetil Waehler (Aalborg, Denmark)

Midfielders: Martin Andresen (Vålerenga), Christian Grindheim (SC Heerenveen, Netherlands), Henning Hauger (Stabæk), Bjørn Helge Riise (Lillestrøm), Per Ciljan Skjelbred (Rosenborg), Jan Gunnar Solli (Brann Bergen)

Strikers: Mohammed Abdellaoue (Vålerenga), Daniel Braaten (Toulouse, France), Thorstein Helstad (Le Mans, France), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn Rovers, England)

Source: Goal.com.