Rushfeldt comes to Norway's rescue

Sigurd Rushfeldt has ended a long absence from the Norway national team to replace John Carew in the squad to take on Bosnia-Herzegovina on 17 October.

Veteran returns
Second in the section, but level on points with third placed Turkey having played a game more, Åge Hareide's men need a win in Sarajevo to maintain the pressure on their Group C rivals, and the 34-year-old Rushfeldt, who won the last of his 35 caps for Norway in October 2005, has been called in to provide attacking threat in the absence of the injured Carew. "He is an experienced forward with an eye for goal," said Hareide. "He may have an important part to play." Midfielder Alexander Ødegaard also gets a call after some impressive displays for Viking FK.

Norway squad
Goalkeepers: Rune Almenning Jarstein (Odd Grenland), Thomas Myhre (Viking FK), Håkon Opdal (SK Brann).

Defenders: Erik Hagen (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Brede Hangeland (FC København), Frode Kippe (Lillestrøm SK), John Arne Riise (Liverpool FC), Jarl-André Storbæk (Vålerenga IF), Vidar Riseth (Rosenborg BK).

Midfielders: Martin Andresen (SK Brann), John Anders Bjørkøy (Fredrikstad FK), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn Rovers FC), Bjørn Riise (Lillestrøm SK), Jan Gunnar Solli (SK Brann), Lars Iver Strand (Tromsø IL), Fredrik Strømstad (IK Start), Petter Vaagan Moen (SK Brann), Alexander Ødegaard (Viking FK).

Forwards: Daniel Braaten (Bolton Wanderers FC), Christian Grindheim (Vålerenga IF), Thorstein Helstad (SK Brann), Steffen Iversen (Rosenborg BK), Sigurd Rushfeldt (Tromsø IL).