Hareide turns to new names

Coach Åge Hareide has included two new names, Simen Brenne and Daniel Fredheim Holm, in his squad for Norway's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying fixtures against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey.

'Inspiring' introductions
Hareide's side lie third in Group C having won their first two qualifiers but lost to holders Greece in their last competitive fixture and the coach has called Lillestrøm SK midfielder Brenne and Vålerenga IF striker Holm into his 23-man party. "Simen Brenne and Daniel Fredheim Holm played themselves into the squad during our training camp in Manchester last week," Hariede explained. "It is inspiring that young players are taking the chance when they get it. It is now up to the team to follow suit. Our aim is to reach the final tournament next year."

Surgery for Solskjær
Norway are without Manchester United FC striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær, out after knee surgery, while captain Martin Andresen is struggling with a groin problem but is expected to be fit. "I hope he recovers, he needs to be 100 per cent to start," said Hareide of the SK Brann midfielder. His side play the Bosnians in Oslo on 24 March before travelling to Frankfurt to take on Turkey four days later.

Norway squad
Goalkeepers: Rune Almenning Jarstein (Odd Grenland), Thomas Myhre (Charlton Athletic FC), Håkon Opdal (SK Brann).

Defenders: Erik Hagen (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Brede Hangeland (FC København), Marius Johnson (1. FC Köln), Frode Kippe (Lillestrøm SK), Anders Rambekk (Lillestrøm SK), John Arne Riise (Liverpool FC), Jarl André Storbæk (Vålerenga IF).

Midfielders: Martin Andresen (SK Brann), Simen Brenne (Lillestrøm SK), Christian Grindheim (Vålerenga IF), Kristofer Hæstad (Wigan Athletic FC), Tommy Svindal Larsen (Odd Grenland), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn Rovers FC), Fredrik Strømstad (IK Start).

Forwards: John Carew (Aston Villa FC), Thorstein Helstad (SK Brann), Daniel Fredheim Holm (Vålerenga IF), Steffen Iversen (Rosenborg BK), Frode Johnsen (Nagoya Grampus Eight), Ole Martin Årst (Tromsø IL).