© Reuters 2002

STOCKHOLM, March 4 (Reuters) - Sunderland's Swedish defender Joachim Bjorklund will be out for at least two weeks after picking up a thigh injury against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Bjorklund had to be replaced in the second half as Sunderland went down 2-1 to their London opponents. "It hit me badly and I couldn't continue," Bjorklund was quoted as saying in Swedish daily Aftonbladet on Monday.

"I'm going to have the injury examined on Monday. At best I might need two or three weeks to recover." Bjorklund, who has 78 caps, added that he not gone back on his decision a year ago not to play for the national team.

"The answer is still no," added the 31-year-old.

Bjorklund made himself unavailable to the Swedish national team in February 2001 after missing out on selection for several matches.

His last appearance for Sweden came in the goalless World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in October 2000. Sweden are drawn with England, Nigeria and Argentina in World Cup group F in Japan later this summer.