Chetcuti out for up to 10 weeks

Sliema Wanderers defender Jeffrey Chetcuti will be sidelined between eight to ten weeks after having surgery on his left hand.

The 32-year-old former Malta international went under the surgeon's knife at St Luke's on Monday after fracturing a bone during the Wanderers' 3-1 defeat to Premier League leaders Marsaxlokk last Friday.

Chetcuti suffered the injury early in the first half when landing badly after his run into the Marsaxlokk box had been halted by a tackle from Malcolm Licari.

News of Chetcuti's long lay-off is a fresh setback for Sliema who are under increasing pressure to turn their season around after a tentative start to the Premier League trek.

To compound matters for Sliema, still reeling from back-to-back defeats against Valletta and Marsaxlokk, Italian defender Mauro Di Lello was yesterday given a one-match ban after he collected his fourth yellow card last week.

The 28-year-old Di Lello will miss Sliema's delicate league clash with second-placed Msida St Joseph on November 25.

Team manager banned

Floriana midfielder Manolito Micallef, Aaron Xuereb, the Hibernians defender, and Marsa's Nigerian forward Anthony Ewurun were the other Premier League players receiving a one-match ban yesterday.

Peter Hartshorne, Marsaxlokk's team manager, has been hit by a two-match touchline ban after being ordered off the bench by referee Marco Borg during his side's victory over Sliema on Friday.