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Severin Joins Up With Scotland Squad

Submitted by Neville Nixon on Mon, 05/09/2005 - 14:45.

In preparation for their must win match, Aberdeen midfielder Scott Severin has joined up with Scotland's squad for wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Norway. Severin flew out to Oslo on Monday morning as cover with minor injuries affecting Nigel Quashie, Barry Ferguson and Darren Fletcher.

Aberdeen team-mate Russell Anderson dropped out of the squad for the must-win game with an ankle injury.
West Ham's Christian Dailly travelled to Norway though suspended, but Hearts' Steven Pressley is free of his ban.
Norway have personnel problems themselves, despite the excellent win away to Slovenia that puts them in a strong positions to grab the play-off spot behind Italy in Group Five.

Nine players were booked during their 3-2 victory.And it means that full-back Jan Inge Hoiland, centre-half Erik Hagen and striker Morten Gamst Pedersen, who scored the winner in Slovenia, will all be missing against Scotland through suspension.

Striker Steffen Iversen is also a doubt with a back injury, but wing-back John-Arne Riise returns from suspension.
Italy remain favourites to win the group, but Norway narrowed the gap at the top to just two points with three games remaining after Pedersen's stoppage-time winner moved them five points clear of Scotland.

Nigel Quashie is Scotland manager Walter Smith's main concern.
But he, Ferguson, who has a blister on his heel that is restricting his movement, and Fletcher, who took a kick on his heel, have vowed to be fit to play at the Ullevaal Stadium.

"I think they're all going to be okay," said Smith. "Nigel Quashie is the biggest doubt and I have brought in Scott Severin just in case we are a bit short, but that was more a precaution than anything else.
"Losing Christian is a blow and Russell Anderson has returned to his club.But we have Elvis back and there are others pushing for a place."


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