Miller keen to assess new crop of U-21 players

A new crop of promising players are in Malta's U-21 squad for today's friendly against Tunisia at the National Stadium.

Coach Mark Miller will take the opportunity to gauge the potential of his new players who will be representing the nation at U-21 international level for the next two years.

With the exception of 'veterans' Alex Muscat, of Sliema Wanderers, Msida St Joseph's Josef Mifsud and goalkeeper Andrew Hogg, of Pietà Hotspurs, the other players in the squad were born in or after 1986.

Some of them, the likes of Clayton Failla, Andrei Agius, Dyson Falzon and Ian Zammit have been in the U-21 fold for some years but others such as Floriana duo Christian Caruana and Angus Buhagiar, Msida defender Tyron Farrugia, Hamrun Spartans' Ryan Fenech, Edward Herrera of Melita and Joel Sammut Vasquez, who is registered with Polish club Legia Warsaw, are newcomers to the U-21 set-up.

Qormi's Andrew Scerri was another new member in the group but he was forced to pull out through injury.

"This is the new Malta U-21 squad," Miller said. "Alex Muscat and Josef Mifsud are the only two over-age players in my squad. I decided to call them because their experience will help the younger ones settle in and also because we're short on defenders.

"Andrè Schembri is not in the squad because he is training with the senior team under national coach Dusan Fitzel."

After falling to Georgia 4-2 on aggregate in the preliminary play-offs under the revamped format of the UEFA U-21 Championship qualifying competition, Malta U-21 have no competitive matches programmed for this year.

Clear indication

This shortage of commitments was the main reason why Miller took up Tunisia's offer to play a friendly match in the last week of May.

"I know this is not the ideal preparation and certainly not a great time to play a friendly but on the positive side, it gives me the chance to see the new squad," Miller told The Sunday Times.

"This game will give me a good indication as to whether I've got the right mixture of players for future U-21 commitments. It's also an opportunity for the boys to show what they're capable of in what will be a tough match against a strong and fast Tunisian team.

"I'm looking forward to the match and all I expect from the team is that they give a good effort."

Malta's squad

Goalkeepers - A. Hogg (Pietà Hotspurs), M. Montfort (Valletta).

Defenders - S. Bezzina (Val-letta), J. Caruana (Mosta), C. Failla (Hibs), T. Farrugia (Msida), J. Mifsud (Msida SJ), A. Muscat (Sliema W.), J. Vella (Hibs).

Midfielders - A. Agius (Messina, Italy), M. Bartolo (Mosta), C. Caruana (Floriana), D. Falzon (Mosta), P. Fenech (Msida), R. Fenech (Hamrun S.).

Forwards - A. Buhagiar (Floriana), E. Herrera (Melita), J. Sammut Vasquez (Legia Warsaw, Poland), I. Zammit (Valletta).