Norway facing midfield crisis for Scots clash

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NORWAY are facing a midfield injury crisis going into Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland.

Former captain Martin Andresen is set to undergo groin surgery in Germany tomorrow and will definitely miss the Hampden Park clash.

Head coach Age Hareide could also be without two more midfielders for the Group Nine encounter.

Per Ciljan Skjelbred suffered a knee injury playing for Rosenborg on Sunday, with an initial diagnosis suggesting the 21-year-old will be out for between five and six weeks.

Fellow midfielder Bjorn Helge Riise is also doubtful after he did not play for his club, Lillestrom, on Sunday due to injury.

Norway have still to decide whether Rosenborg striker Steffen Iversen, who has a leg problem, will be fit enough to travel to Glasgow.

There are also concerns about fellow forward John Carew, who suffered a neck injury in Aston Villa’s defeat at Chelsea on Sunday and revealed he will not be able to train for two or three days.

The injury deluge is bad news for the under-fire Hareide, who said: “A lot of things have happened this weekend.

“I can’t give a clear answer as to how we solve these problems.”