Pace, Bogdanovic and Barbara recalled

Malta coach Dusan Fitzel waited until after yesterday evening's training session to announce the 18-man squad for the World Cup Group One qualifiers at home to Denmark on Saturday and away to Hungary four days later.

Marsaxlokk veteran defender Brian Said and Birkirkara midfielder George Mallia did not train yesterday after Fitzel had informed them that they were not in his plans for the upcoming matches.

Fitzel had concerns about the fitness of Gilbert Agius after the Malta captain picked up a knock in Valletta's 3-1 league defeat to Birkirkara last weekend.

Ian Azzopardi, the Sliema left-back, had also been struggling with a minor injury but both he and Agius have been included in Fitzel's final squad after getting the medical go-ahead to train in the build-up to the match.

Jamie Pace has been recalled by Fitzel after the Valletta midfielder had been dropped from the squad for last month's goalless draw against Albania.

Also back in the fray are forwards Daniel Bogdanovic and Etienne Barbara, who missed the national team's last match because of injury.

Mario Muscat skipped the last two training sessions as he is not 100 per cent fit. The veteran keeper is not on the players' list as Fitzel has opted to stick with Justin Haber and Andrew Hogg.

Kenneth Scicluna, Kevin Sammut, Ivan Woods, Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza and Clayton Failla all failed to make the cut but will remain on standby.

Said's omission is a clear indication that Fitzel intends to confirm Andrei Agius, of Igea Virtus, as Luke Dimech's partner in central defence.

Malta squad

Goalkeepers - J. Haber (Sheffield United), A. Hogg (Valletta).

Defenders - A. Agius (Igea Virtus), I. Azzopardi (Sliema Wanderers), R. Briffa (Valletta), J. Caruana (Hibs), L. Dimech (Valletta), A. Muscat (Sliema W.), S. Bajada (Birkirkara)

Midfielders - G. Agius (Valletta), A. Cohen (Hibernians), R. Fenech (Ħamrun Spartans), J. Pace (Valletta).

Forwards - E. Barbara (SC Verle), D. Bogdanovic (Barnsley), M. Mifsud (Barnsley), T. Scerri (Hibs), A. Schembri (Carl Zeiss Jena).