Kenny Dalglish has sanctioned Henrik Larsson's participation at Euro 2000 as the Celtic star made Sweden's selection having played just 25 minutes of first-team football since last October.

Larsson was named in one of the two final places by co-managers Lars Lagerback and Tommy Soderberg as the Swedes prepare for the finals in Holland and Belgium next month.

He is described as his country's 'joker' after convincing medical staff over the past fortnight that he is ready for a substitute role, with last Sunday's brief appearance against Dundee United at Parkhead influential in the decision.

Dalglish praised Larsson for his work in recovering from the horrific leg-break he sustained against Lyon last October, even though the talismanic striker broke down in March when it seemed he could be involved in the League Cup Final and an Old Firm match at Ibrox.

Celtic fans will now be anxious that he survives Euro 2000 mishap in the hope that intensive training for the next month will in fact ensure he returns to Glasgow in even better shape for the new season.

'It is fantastic news for Henrik that he has been included in the Swedish squad and I am very pleased for him,' said Dalglish. 'Sweden would not have included him merely on grounds of sentiment and their medical people have been working very closely with ours throughout the past few months and weeks.

'Clearly, they feel he is worthy of inclusion in their squad and, to me, that is a reward for all the hard work he has put in over the season.'

Swedish coach Lagerback said: 'Henrik is the joker in our pack and the good thing is that he is back looking like the Henrik of before. That is the way he has looked in training.'

Soderberg said: 'Henrik is in perfect shape and his lack of recent playing experience is not a concern.'

Kennet Andersson and Jorgen Petterssen will be the first-choice strike partnership, with Larsson held in reserve. He has another chance to improve his match fitness a week today, when Spain visit Gothenburg for a friendly, with the party travelling to Eindhoven the following day.

Larsson said: 'This is great news and it is what I have been working towards over the past fortnight. It was, therefore, very important for me to play against Dundee United last Sunday and I am very pleased to be involved.'

Dalglish, meanwhile, could offer no comfort or crumb of information to Celtic fans awaiting news on the managerial vacancy.

SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Magnus Hedman (Coventry City), Mattias Asper (AIK Stockholm), Magnus Kihlstedt (Brann)

Defenders: Patrik Andersson (Bayern Munich), Joakim Bjorklund (Valencia), Tomas Gustafsson (Coventry City), Teddy Lucic (AIK Stockholm), Olof Mellberg (Racing Santander), Roland Nilsson (Helsingborg), Gary Sundgren (Real Zaragoza)

Midfielders: Niclas Alexandersson (Sheffield Wednesday), Anders Andersson (Aalborg) Daniel Andersson (Bari), Johan Mjallby (Celtic), Magnus Svensson (Bronby), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal), Hakan Mild (IFK Gothenburg)

Strikers: Jorgen Pettersson (Kaiserslauten), Kennet Andersson (Bologna), Yskel Osmanovski (Bari), Henrik Larsson (Celtic), Marcus Allback (Orgryte)