Hareide goes to wire over dangerman Iversen

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NORWAY manager Age Hareide will wait until the last minute before making a decision on Steffen Iversen’s participation.

The former Tottenham striker has been struggling with a leg injury but took part in a training session at Hampden yesterday.

Iversen, now playing for Rosenborg, was all but ruled out of the Group 9 encounter this week but appeared to suffer no ill-effects from the workout.

Hareide said: “We will see how he reacts after training but he is a doubt. I don’t have all the information about his treatment but we will speak to the doctors and he will have a short test in the morning.

“He would be a big loss for us and he was positive this morning, but we have another game in a few days and we will take no chances because he could be ruled out for a long time.”

Hareide was also coy about speculation that 33-year-old Stabaek goalkeeper Jon Knudsen will make his debut at the expense of 24-year-old Rune Jarstein, who shouldered much of the blame for last month’s 2-2 draw with Iceland.

The goalkeeping position has been a problem but the manager insists that whoever plays will be able to cope with the traditional passion generated by 52,000 Tartan Army footsoldiers.

Hareide added: “We tested the three keepers today and we have decided who is going to be in goal. We have told the keeper but we will announce it just before kick-off.

“We were very solid in the last qualification campaign but we conceded goals against Iceland to goalkeeping mistakes.

“But we are not just looking at goalkeeping – maybe we should be protecting him better.”