Carew doubtful but Butcher warns Scots overs complacency

Published on Monday 6 October 2008 21:44

THE man identified by Terry Butcher as the main threat to Scotland's chances against Norway on Saturday is struggling to be fit for the vital World Cup qualifying clash.

John Carew picked up a neck injury while playing for Aston Villa against Chelsea on Sunday, and the 6ft 6in striker has revealed he will not be able to train for the next two or three days. This raises the prospect of Norway being without Carew for the Hampden encounter.

Norway coach Age Hareide is facing a mounting injury crisis, with midfielders Per Ciljan Skjelbred having suffered a knee injury while playing for Rosenborg on Sunday. He will definitely miss Saturday's encounter, while fellow midfielder Bjorn Helge Riise is also doubtful after not playing for his club, Lillestrom, on Sunday due to injury.

Norway have also still to decide whether Rosenborg striker Steffen Iversen, who has a leg problem, will be fit to travel to Glasgow. But it is the doubt over Carew's fitness which is Hareide's biggest cause for concern, with the Aston Villa striker having scored 21 goals in 71 appearances for his country.

He has scored five goals in 10 games for his club this season, although he struggled to make an impact against Chelsea on Sunday before his 71st-minute substitution. He was well policed by John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic, but Butcher, the Scotland assistant manager, is more concerned about cutting off the supply of balls to Carew.

"We have to try and squeeze the midfield and back four so he doesn't get the ball on his chest," said Butcher. "They (Norway] tend to look to hit him quite early and he's very good at holding people off. Iversen makes run in behind and their wide players tuck in. They have a lot of players going forward. If we are going to drop off and be tentative, then he will get the space that he requires. We can't afford to be like that. I have watched him have some very good games and watched some games where he didn't do a lot.

"He didn't do a lot on Sunday, but then he was playing against Chelsea, who are one of the top two teams in England. If you allow good service to him, then you have a problem."

David Weir is likely to be asked to mark Carew, if the striker starts. Weir will be making his first appearance of the qualifying campaign in place of Stephen McManus, who is suspended. Weir's Scotland future had been placed in doubt when manager George Burley revealed McManus and Gary Caldwell would be his first-choice central defensive pairing, but the stalwart Rangers defender will step back in to win his 62nd cap.

"When your country comes calling, he is still fully prepared to stand up and be counted," said Butcher of Weir. "He has tremendous drive and attitude. He may not have a long future with Scotland, but he wants to work hard and be the best. It's a big ask on Saturday for whoever plays against Carew and Iversen."

Butcher revealed that all the players have been sent DVDs of Norway, and were expected to have watched them by the time they gathered at Loch Lomond's Cameron House Hotel yesterday.

"I have often said at clubs (where I managed] that the team I fear most is ourselves," said Butcher. "It's about mental preparation and how you approach the game. We can't look at recent results Scotland have got at Hampden and think we just have to turn up and win.

"We have to do enough in the game to put ourselves in the position so we can win it. You look upon it as your last game, your last chance, and last opportunity. Not that I am saying it is. But it's like a squash player going on and thinking he is two sets to love down, and eight-love down in the last game. I think it was Jahangir Khan who played every point like that. We have to do that as well."