Sweden coach Lars Lagerback left Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson out of his squad for next week's World Cup qualifying match against Malta.

Larsson, who returned to practice last week after being sidelined for six months with a knee injury, sits out for Brondby forward Johan Elmander.

"He is not ready to play on this level after such a long injury period," Lagerback said.

The squad also includes Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Arsenal midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg and Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg.

Sweden plays Malta in Gothenburg on Saturday 4 June.

The Swedes trail Croatia by one point in Group 8, while Malta are in last place

Roster

Goalkeepers: Eddie Gustafsson (Ham-Kam), Andreas Isaksson (Stade Rennais).

Defenders: Christoffer Andersson (Lillestrom), Erik Edman (Tottenham), Petter Hansson (Heerenveen), Teddy Lucic (Hacken), Daniel Majstorovic (Twente), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa), Mikael Nilsson (Southampton), Alexander Ostlund (Feyenoord).

Midfielders: Niklas Alexandersson (Goteborg), Daniel Andersson (Malmo), Kim Kallstrom (Stade Rennais), Tobias Linderoth (FC Copenhagen), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal), Mattias Jonson (Norwich), Anders Svensson (Southampton), Christian Wilhelmsson (Anderlecht).

Forwards: Marcus Allback (Hansa Rostock), Johan Elmander (Brondby), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus), Markus Rosenberg (Malmo).