Henrik Larsson's decision to come out of international retirement for Euro 2004, when he will probably be without a club and looking for one in Spain or his home country, has been welcomed by Sweden's management team.
Sweden's joint coach Lars Lagerback, who is preparing for group matches against Italy, Denmark and Bulgaria, is delighted with the 32-year-old striker's change of heart.
"We are pleased with Henrik's 'yes' and we must say that we have never closed the door on him," he said. "He is very welcome in the squad. Because of the kind of football Henrik has displayed this season and the kind of person he is, this is a positive injection for the national team."
The Celtic striker has scored 24 goals in 72 games for his country, but retired after the 2002 World Cup finals, when he was less than fit, although he reappeared in a Euro 2004 qualifier against Hungary in April 2003, a favour to the management as Zlatan Ibrahimovic was suspended and Marcus Allback lacked fitness.
"My son was the reason why I stopped playing for Sweden," said Larsson, who leaves Celtic as a free agent after the cup final against Dunfermline on May 22nd.
"He was a little upset after Euro 2000 and the World Cup and I thought that I had better step aside for a while. Then, one day, he asked me why I wasn't playing for Sweden anymore and I said 'because of you'.
"I can even go on playing for Sweden after Euro 2004, but I am sure I will be leaving Celtic after this season. I came to the decision that it was time to move on and I still feel that is the right choice and I am happy with that."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill will be without Stilian Petrov for tomorrow's Premier League game against Dunfermline.
Petrov picked up an ankle knock during Bulgaria's friendly win over Cameroon earlier in the week and will miss the visit of the Pars.
Better news for O'Neill is that Chris Sutton (groin) and Alan Thompson (hamstring) could be back in contention this weekend.
But Jackie McNamara and Stephen Pearson are still rated doubtful and a late decision will be made on the pair.
Nottingham Forest manager Joe Kinnear has dropped a heavy hint that star midfielder and Ireland international Andy Reid could be set for a close-season departure.
Reid had been a January transfer target for Tottenham, but Forest turned down an initial £5 million offer with Kinnear now rating the goal-scoring midfielder in the £10 million bracket.
"I would be disappointed if clubs don't come in for Andy Reid and Michael Dawson over the course of the summer because they're two cracking players who could certainly do it at the highest level," Kinnear said.
"In an ideal world I'd like to keep both of them, but if we lost anyone it would only be one player, not two, and if we did lose the one it could be Reidy."
Charlton captain Matt Holland has responded to treatment on a back problem in time to feature against Leicester at the Valley today.
The midfielder pulled out of Ireland's midweek international against Poland as a precaution, but has now recovered and looks set to maintain his ever-present record for the Addicks this season.
And promotion-chasing Sunderland should be able to welcome back Jason McAteer (hamstring) and Gary Breen (knee) - both of whom also pulled out of Ireland's midweek game - for their crucial Division One game today against Crewe at the Stadium of Light.
