Solskjær, age 34, had been expected to play in Saturday's match against Malta, but a swollen knee has disqualified him and left coach Åge Hareide trying to find a replacement.
Solskjær, who's been playing professionally for Manchester United for years, had seemed to make a solid comeback this season after injury. But a nearly four-year struggle with his knees seems to be taking its toll.
Solskjær underwent his first knee operation in September 2003. Two more followed in August 2004.
He returned to the field in December 2005, playing for eight minutes against Birmingham. He returned to the national squad in August 2006, playing against Brazil in Oslo.
He had to miss the matches against Bosnia and Turkey this spring, though, and now he's been sidelined again. Team doctor Thor Einar Andersen downplayed the seriousness of the problem.
"No, this isn't career-threatening," Andersen told newspaper VG. Instead, Solskjær's knees simply didn't tolerate recent back-to-back matches he played against Chelsea and West Ham. He can't play again until the swelling in his knees goes down, the doctor said.
Coach Hareide hopes Solskjær will be back in Norway to play against Hungary next week.
