THE coach of the reigning Norwegian champions has claimed his side would kick Rovers' backsides if they ever played them again.

Rosenborg boss Nils Arne Eggen hit back after Blackburn defender Henning Berg criticised Norway's selection policy ahead of their vital World Cup qualifier against Poland today.

Berg questioned the inclusion of some of the 'nice' home-based players in boss Nils Johan Semb's squad.

But Eggen, in charge of Rovers' old Champions League foes, insisted that Norway's home-based players are a match for the squad's overseas stars.

"I have never heard so much rubbish," he said. "Norwegian clubs are as professional as any other. Berg can come here with Blackburn whenever he wants and we will kick their backsides.

"If I had the chance to pick a national team with players from the Tippeliga (Norwegian League) to face the "foreigners" in the current Norway side, we would give them a hard time."

Norway have drawn two and lost one of their opening three qualifying games and badly need to beat Group Five leaders Poland in Oslo today to enhance their chances of reaching the finals in 2002.

And Berg spoke out after Semb included Morten Bakke, Staale Stensaas, Dagfinn Enerly, Thorstein Helstad and Tommy Svindal Larsen for the matches against the Poles and then Belarus.

Berg said: "We have always had players with guts in the team and people that are reckless. Now I am afraid that we have too many nice boys. The Tippeliga players have a tendency to be like that. "In Norway, there is a different culture. I think that players in Norway maybe miss some of the temperament and recklessness that many professionals have. It is good to be nice off the field. But on it you have to be smarter.

"Time will show if I'm right, but the more new people that come in the more uncertain I get. You have to have characters as well as good footballers."

Meanwhile, Rovers winger Keith Gillespie was set to resume his international career today after being passed fit to line up for Northern Ireland against the Czech Republic at Windsor Park.

Gillespie's first appearance for his country in almost a year was thrown into doubt when he sustained a neck problem on Thursday.

However, the re-vitalised wideman was able to train yesterday and was expected to be named in Sammy McIlroy's starting line-up for the Group Three clash.

"Keith has come through no problem. He trained this morning with us and he's fit now," said McIlroy, who has been delighted by the 26-year-old's return to form.

"He must be playing well to impress somebody like Graeme Souness," he added.