Skipper Agius wins fitness battle to earn place in final squad

Malta captain Gilbert Agius has won his fitness battle to secure a berth in Horst Heese's 18-man squad for Wednesday's World Cup Group Eight qualifier against Hungary at the National Stadium (kick-off 7.30 p.m.).

The Valletta talisman had complained of back pain after helping his team to a 4-0 defeat of Balzan Y. in a match from the first round of the FA Trophy but he has been training normally over the last few days, convincing the national team's medical staff, led by Dr David Attard, and coach Heese that he will be fit to line up against the Hungarians.

Birkirkara duo George Mallia and Antoine Zahra, both included in Malta's squad for the last international commitments against Iceland (0-0) and Bulgaria (1-4), were not in Malta's 18-man party after failing to recover from injury.

Zahra's chances of adding to his 43 caps for Malta have been shattered by a groin injury while Mallia, who has played 34 times for the national team, has a hamstring problem.

The other two players to miss out on Heese's 18-man selection are Jeffrey Chetcuti, the Sliema defender, and Kevin Sammut, of Msida SJ.

With 68 appearances to his credit, Chetcuti is one of the more experienced members in the Maltese squad and an automatic choice for several years. His status in the national team has slipped a few notches lately as increasing work commitments are preventing him from practising regularly with the national coaches.

There were hardly any surprises in the squad announced by Heese and his assistant Carmel Busuttil yesterday. Luke Dimech, the Mansfield Town defender, and Lillestrom striker Michael Mifsud were confirmed as the only foreign-based players in the Maltese party.

Marsaxlokk's midfielder-cum-striker Etienne Barbara was handed a recall to the squad after being left out of the 18-man list for the last two qualifiers. Michael Galea is also back in contention for a first-team place after missing the trip to Bulgaria with a slight knee injury.

Galea's inclusion takes the number of strikers in Heese's squad to four, the other three being Barbara, Mifsud and Andrew Cohen, of Hibs.

Adrian Pulis, also of Hibs, has retained his place in the squad and will be hoping to make his debut for Malta on Wednesday.

Heese will undoubtedly be relieved that the team's focus has returned to purely football matters after the national squad members walked out of training on Friday to protest against the MFA's delay in paying them their wages and bonus for their 0-0 draw against Iceland.

Normality was restored on Saturday after the MFA duly settled their dues with their elite players.

The Maltese group yesterday evening checked in at the Barcelo Riviera Resort in Marfa, their base for the next three days.

Meanwhile, the Hungarian squad, led by coach Lothar Matthaeus, are due to arrive in Malta this afternoon.

Malta's 18-man squad:

Goalkeepers - Saviour Darmanin (Pietà Hotspurs), Justin Haber (Birkirkara).

Defenders - Ian Azzopardi (Floriana), Roderick Briffa (Birkirkara), Ian Ciantar (Floriana), Luke Dimech (Mansfield Town, England), Adrian Pulis (Hibernians), Brian Said (Sliema Wanderers), Steve Wellman (Floriana).

Midfielders - Gilbert Agius (Valletta), Stefan Giglio (Sliema W.), Claude Mattocks (Sliema W.), Peter Pullicino (Hibernians), Ivan Woods (Pietà Hotspurs).

Forwards - Etienne Barbara (Marsaxlokk), Andrew Cohen (Hibernians), Michael Galea (Birkirkara), Michael Mifsud (Lillestrom, Norway).