IF Elfsborg have suffered a blow ahead of the coming Swedish Allsvenskan season with the news that veteran striker Mathias Svensson has been forced to quit football due to a chronic knee injury.

Capped twice by Sweden, 33-year-old Svensson said: "I spoke to (doctor) Leif Swärdh after a scan in January and he told me that there was no way that I could play. I've known it ever since, but I wanted to have some time on my own, before telling everyone about it. It's tough but I've already spoken to Elfsborg about a role within the club, but it's too early to say now."