Cohen in but no place for Mattocks in Fitzel's squad

Andrew Cohen is poised to add to his 13 caps for Malta after being confirmed in Dusan Fitzel's 18-man squad for tomorrow's Euro 2008 Group C match at home to Hungary (kick-off 7.15 p.m.)

The return of Cohen, Footballer of the Year for the past two seasons, is widely seen as a fillip for the national team, especially in attack where Fitzel's options for Malta's opening two qualifiers had been hampered by the absence of the talented Hibernians forward besides that of Birkirkara's Etienne Barbara.

Cohen had missed Malta's last three games, namely, the 3-0 defeat to Slovakia in a friendly in August and the Euro 2008 upsets at home to Bosnia (2-5) and Turkey (0-2), after a cartilage operation during the close season.

At club level, Cohen played no part in Hibernians' first two league matches but, having earned a starting role for his side's third game against Marsa, the 25-year-old forward has been instrumental in the Paolites' rise to the top of the Premier League standings.

If Cohen's positive impact for Hibs has convinced the national coach to award him an instant recall to the squad, the same cannot be said of Claude Mattocks who has been left out.

An automatic choice for the national team during the Horst Heese era, Mattocks made Fitzel's initial formation for the opening qualifier against Bosnia but lost his place on the left side of midfield for the next competitive match, the 2-0 defeat to Turkey played on neutral territory in the German city of Frankfurt.

Mattocks' cause to underline his claim for a regular berth in the national team has only been compounded by his sustained omission from Sliema Wanderers' first team for the last four league games, leading to his exclusion from Malta's final roster for the Group C meeting with Hungary.

The other players to be dropped from the provisional 22-man squad named by Fitzel last week are Pietà Hotspurs goalkeeper Andrew Hogg and midfielders Roderick Bajada (Sliema Wanderers) and Christian Cassar (Floriana).

Fitzel finalised his list of 18 players yesterday. After the evening training session at Ta' Qali, the MFA contingent headed for the Coastline Hotel, their base before tomorrow's match.

Goalkeeper Justin Haber, now on the books of Belgian Division Two club Royal Excelsior Virton, and Lillestrom striker Michael Mifsud practised with their Malta team-mates yesterday.

Mallia returns

Birkirkara midfielder George Mallia is also back in the reckoning for a starting slot after work commitments had forced him to pull out of the squad for the 'away' match against Turkey on September 6.

At a news conference on Friday, Mark Miller, the national team's assistant coach, singled out Mallia as the front runner to replace Ivan Woods tomorrow.

A starter against Turkey, Woods is ineligible to face Hungary due to a one-match suspension he received from UEFA after collecting two yellow cards in the opening qualifiers.

Apart from long-term injury absentees Roderick Briffa, Massimo Grima and Orosco Anonam, Sliema Wanderers' right-back Ian Ciantar is out of tomorrow's game with hamstring trouble. His place in the team is likely to be awarded to Msida's Peter Pullicino or Birkirkara defender Kenneth Scicluna.

After back-to-back defeats in their first two qualifiers, Malta will be bidding to open their account tomorrow.

But, having made a disappointing start to their Euro 2008 campaign, the Magyars will surely regard their fixture in Malta as a must-win match, especially after the 1-0 loss at home to Turkey on Saturday.

As Hungary are scheduled to land in Malta this evening, they have forfeited the customary training spin at the National Stadium on the eve of the game.

Coach Peter Bozsik has settled for just one session of practising, to be held tomorrow morning at the Ta' Qali training grounds, during Hungary's short stay here.

Tomorrow's match comes just over a year after the Hungarians crushed Malta 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Budapest.

Malta's 18-man squad

Goalkeepers - Justin Haber (Royal Excelsior Virton, Belgium - 15 caps), Mario Muscat (Hibernians - 59).

Defenders - Ian Azzopardi (Floriana - 19), Luke Dimech (Marsaxlokk - 44), Brian Said (Sliema Wanderers - 65), Kenneth Scicluna (Birkirkara - 4), Steve Wellman (Marsaxlokk - 12).

Midfielders - Gilbert Agius (Valletta - 94), Trevor Cilia (Floriana - 2), George Mallia (Birkirkara - 43), Jamie Pace (Marsaxlokk - 5), Peter Pullicino (Msida St Joseph - 15), Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk - 11), Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk - 7).

Forwards - Andrew Cohen (Hibernians - 13), Michael Mifsud (Lillestrom, Norway - 42), Terrence Scerri (Hibs - 1), Andrè Schembri (Marsaxlokk - 4).