Veterans fill in at short notice for missing stars
Norway have lost four key players prior to their departure from Scandinavia to take part in the Carlsberg Cup. Stabaek striker Martin Andresen has elected to remain in England where he is negotiating a transfer to English Premiership side Blackburn Rovers.
The 26-year-old impressed Blackburn manager Graeme Souness during a week-long trial and is now discussing personal terms before the transfer - believed to be in the region of #1 million - can go through.
Meanwhile Rosenborg goalkeeper Espen Olsen, who has been training with his club in the Canary Islands, has scheduled surgery tomorrow to try and cure a chronic knee problem in the hope that he will be fit in time to take part in their UEFA Cup tie against Benfica at the end of February.
The other absentees are former Wimbledon defender Trond Andersen, who suffered a groin injury in pre-season training with Aalborg, and Runar Berg, who has a knee problem. Age Hareide has called up four veteran players - Erik Holtan, Tommy Berntsen, Rune Buer Johansen and Jan Derek Sorensen - all of them in their thirties.
