SWEDEN captain Fredrik Ljungberg is set to miss next week's Euro 2008 warm-up match against Slovenia as he continues his recovery from a cracked rib.
The West Ham midfielder suffered the injury in his side's 2-2 draw against Newcastle on April 26 following a collision with opposition defender Steven Taylor, but was nevertheless named in Sweden coach Lars Lagerback's squad for Austria and Switzerland.
The 31-year-old is well on the road to recovery almost a month on from sustaining the injury, but is refusing to take any chances by turning out for Monday's friendly against the Slovenians.
He told Dagens Nyheter newspaper: "There's a risk that I will take a hit and that the injury will come back, and then the European Championship is over."
The former Arsenal star is expected to make his comeback in Sweden's second warm-up outing against Ukraine on June 1.
Sweden will line up in Euro 2008 Group D alongside Spain, Greece and Russia.
Lagerback's troops begin their campaign against reigning champions Greece on June 10.
The 31-year-old is well on the road to recovery almost a month on from sustaining the injury, but is refusing to take any chances by turning out for Monday's friendly against the Slovenians.
He told Dagens Nyheter newspaper: "There's a risk that I will take a hit and that the injury will come back, and then the European Championship is over."
The former Arsenal star is expected to make his comeback in Sweden's second warm-up outing against Ukraine on June 1.
Sweden will line up in Euro 2008 Group D alongside Spain, Greece and Russia.
Lagerback's troops begin their campaign against reigning champions Greece on June 10.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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