Coventry form inspires Mifsud

"Michael Mifsud has set Coventry City alight with his last two performances. The fans have a new hero. Everyone is talking about him.

"He has had to be patient to get a start up front but came in against Wolves and was the clear man of the match despite not scoring.

"He then followed that up with another excellent display against Barnsley when he finally got his goal and could have had a couple more."

This is an excerpt from an email I received earlier this week from an English journalist working for the Coventry Telegraph.

Michael Mifsud is clearly the man of the moment at Coventry City after his brisk performances in his team's victories over Wolves and Barnsley.

Mifsud's growing reputation in English football has not only endeared him to the Coventry fans but also further enhanced his popularity among the Maltese who are hoping that the quicksilver striker will replicate his club form for his country against Moldova.

"I prefer to take it one game at a time," Mifsud told The Times.

"This is another important game for the national team and I'm very much looking forward to it. I've always said that I enjoy playing for the national team. I hope that we get a good result."

Having joined Coventry in January, Mifsud's optimism of making an instant impact for his new club were complicated by a series of managerial changes.

Micky Adams resigned only a week after Mifsud joined Coventry and caretaker manager Adrian Heath soon followed suit after a series of negative results.

Iain Dowie, the former Crystal Palace and Charlton manager, was then handed the reins of the Coventry team. His arrival sparked an excellent run of results for Coventry, now unbeaten in six matches.

Mifsud had to content himself with a bit-part role in the early days of Dowie's reign but he now looks to have gained the confidence of the manager.

"Self-confidence has never been a problem for me," Mifsud said.

"I believe in my abilities. I had to wait to get my chance under Iain Dowie but even when I wasn't playing regularly, I still felt part of the team. This was mostly down to the support I received from my team-mates.

"Dowie is a very good manager," Mifsud added. "He pays great attention to detail and is very dedicated. His enthusiasm for the game has made a big impression on the players, myself included.

"He turns up for work early in the morning. I'm enjoying working with him so much that I'm always first for training."

Now getting used to the hurly-burly nature of English football, Mifsud has spent the last four days practising with his Malta team-mates.

"As we all know, the tempo of English football is quicker than anywhere else," Mifsud said.

"That said, I feel very much at ease when I'm on international duty. The coach knitted a united group and we have high hopes of achieving more positive results together.

"Our performance against Austria served to raise our spirits before the Moldova game."

Dusan Fitzel has confirmed that Mifsud will again be deployed as an adjunct striker but with the added burden of helping out in midfield.

"I don't mind playing behind the main striker," Mifsud said. "I prefer up front but with the national team I have a free role which suits my qualities. This position gives me a better chance of running at defenders."

Mifsud's relish to torment opposing defenders has been further fuelled by information that Moldova will be missing some key players in defence.

"I've been told that Moldova have three quick strikers but in midfield and defence, they are not so strong," the former Lillestrom striker, who is poised to play his 46th game for Malta, said.

"I'm optimistic that we can get something from this match. In 90 minutes of football, anything can happen."