Carew named Norway's finest

Aston Villa FC striker John Carew has been named Norwegian Player of the Year, chiefly for his exploits with the national team who are well-placed to reach UEFA EURO 2008™ with two qualifiers to play.

Turkey next
The 28-year-old moved to England from Olympique Lyonnais in a swap deal involving Milan Baroš last January, and has performed well in the Premier League without being prolific. Carew scored three goals in eleven games last season, and has struck one in seven for the Midlanders this term. The former AS Roma and Valencia CF forward has also found the net four times during Norway's Group C qualifying campaign – keeping his team in control of their own destiny going into this week's concluding matches against Turkey and Malta.

Solskjær award
"I am very honoured to receive this award, and I hope we will reach the finals," said Carew, having been recognised by the Kniksen panel - named after SK Brann legend Roald 'Kniksen' Jensen, arguably Norway's greatest player. Carew won the award ahead of Ane Stangeland-Horpestad, captain of the women's national side, and FC København centre-half Brede Hangeland. Brann striker Thorstein Helstad was voted the best domestic player by his peers, while his manager Mons Ivar Mjelde scooped the coaching prize. The retired Manchester United FC forward Ole Gunnar Solskjær received the Kniksen commemorative accolade.