Three newcomers in Fitzel's squad

Marsaxlokk forward Cleaven Frendo, Hibs defender Aaron Xuereb and goalkeeper Omar Borg, who recently joined Birkirkara from Msida SJ, have been included in a 27-man squad named by national coach Dusan Fitzel yesterday.

With the exception of these three players, Fitzel has kept faith with those who have trained regularly under his guidance last season.

Yet, a host of experienced players who formed part of the squad at some stage in the past 19 months failed to earn a recall. The likes of Ian Ciantar, Claude Mattocks, Orosco Anonam and Stefan Giglio, all hit hard by injuries in the last year or so, were not selected.

The 2007-2008 training schedule for the national squad members kicks off at Ta' Qali on Monday. Fitzel will take 21 players for a pre-season training camp in Slovakia between August 12 and 19 followed by a friendly match away to Albania on August 22.

Malta's foreign-based players will not take part in the Slovakia training camp but Haber and Schembri are expected to make themselves available for the Albania warm-up.

Mifsud and Dimech will be allowed to stay with their clubs as Fitzel intends to have a look at most of his fringe players in Albania.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: O. Borg; J. Haber; A. Hogg; M. Muscat.

Defenders: I. Azzopardi; L. Dimech; J. Mifsud; P. Pullicino; B. Said; K. Scicluna; S. Wellman; A. Xuereb.

Midfielders: G. Agius; R. Bajada; R. Briffa; G. Mallia; J. Pace; K. Sammut; G. Sciberras.

Forwards: E. Barbara; C. Frendo, D. Bogdanovic; A. Cohen; M. Mifsud; T. Scerri; A. Schembri; I. Woods.