Mifsud hits four in Lillestrom friendly

Michael Mifsud is fast recapturing the scoring form that made him one of the most lethal strikers in the Norwegian League before a shoulder injury curtailed his participation for the second part of last season.

The Malta forward has taken part in two friendly matches played by Lillestrom over the past week as part of their build-up for the start of the Norwegian season in April.

After failing to score in Lillestrom's 1-1 draw against Moss last weekend, Mifsud, 24, hit four goals in his side's 6-1 defeat of Honefoss yesterday.

Mifsud is in the final year of his two-and-a-half year-contract with Lillestrom who have retained German Uwe Rosler as their coach. Mifsud joined Lillestrom in the summer of 2004 after helping Sliema Wanderers to a league and cup double.

News of Mifsud's recovery from injury and his fine pre-season form is good news for the Maltese national team.

New coach Dusan Fitzel is expected to call Mifsud to his first squad for next month's biennial International Tournament at the National Stadium.

Fitzel, MFA president Joe Mifsud and Ivan Vella, the national teams' secretary, were due to fly out to Switzerland yesterday to attend today's draw of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.