Valletta suffer Hogg injury blow

Valletta's preparations for the BOV Super Cup clash against rivals Birkirkara have received a setback with the news that goalkeeper Andrew Hogg has been ruled out of tomorrow's match after picking up an ankle injury while training with the national squad.

Hogg, 23, twisted his right ankle during practice at the Ta' Qali training grounds on Tuesday but further tests also revealed a small tear in his lower calf. As the recovery from such injury normally takes between three to four weeks, Hogg is almost certain to miss the national team's training camp and international friendly in Estonia on August 20.

Champions Valletta may also have to do without their no.1 goalkeeper for their BOV Premier League opener against Sliema Wanderers on the weekend of August 23-25 but they are hopeful that Hogg will be fit for the second fixture against Marsaxlokk.

Young goalkeeper Nicky Vella is set to guard Valletta's goal during Hogg's absence after the experienced Saviour Darmanin in June left the Citizens for Marsaxlokk in search of regular first-team football.

For tomorrow's encounter with Birkirkara at the National Stadium, Valletta coach Paul Zammit will also be without Luke Dimech. The Malta defender will be serving the first of a two-match ban.

Zammit has increased his efforts to sign a second foreign player ahead of the start of the Premier League. The Valletta coach appears to have given up on the two Nigerian youngsters, Samuel Owello and Sunday Gabriel, who were supposed to join the Citizens for a trial in June but were held back by visa-related problems.

It is understood that Zammit has instructed the club, led by president Victor Sciriha, to start discussions with a Brazilian striker, Marcelo Tolomeotti. In South American football, the 29-year-old Tolomeotti, who has played for Santos in the past, is better known as Marcelo Peabiru.

At present, Valletta only have one foreign player in their squad, Cameroonian forward Priso Doding, whom they signed from Msida.

Meanwhile, Malta striker Daniel Bogdanovic is heading for a second spell in Bulgarian football after being offered a contract by Lokomotiv Sofia.

As reported in The Times last month, Bogdanovic, who had a short stint with Bulgarian club Chernomore Varna earlier in his career, was invited to join Lokomotiv for a trial during their training camp in Holland on the recommendation of Danilo Doncic, who is now assistant coach with the Sofia-based club.

Bogdanovic, who was on the books of Italian Serie C2 side Cisco Roma last season, left a good impression during his trial with Lokomotiv despite being short of fitness.

The former Marsaxlokk hitman played the entire second half of Lokomotiv's 1-0 friendly win over Maccabi Petak Tikva and the full 90 minutes in the 0-0 draw against Schalke 04.

On Tuesday, Bogdanovic came off the bench to score Lokomotiv's second goal in a 4-2 win over Bulgarian second division side Sportist-Sloge. He was expected to sign a two-year deal yesterday and could make his competitive debut on Saturday in Lokomotiv's opening league match against Minjor-Pernik. Lokomotiv Sofia have been drawn with Borac-Cacak, of Serbia, in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.