Captain Agius out of squad for Malta internationals
Hutchinson, Muscat get first call-up
Gilbert Agius will not add to his 116 Malta caps in this month's international matches after being left out of the squad for the friendly against the Czech Republic on Friday and the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Sweden on June 10.
National coach Dusan Fitzel yesterday announced a provisional 21-man squad for Malta's upcoming assignments but the skipper's name was not on the list.
Contacted by The Times, Fitzel said Agius requested permission to skip the trip to the Czech Republic due to family commitments. He offered to join up with the squad in Sweden but Fitzel decided to make do without Agius's services for both matches.
Michael Mifsud is another conspicuous absentee from the list. The speedy striker, who married long-time girlfriend Masielle last Friday, is suspended for the Sweden qualifier and Fitzel felt there was no point calling Mifsud for the friendly against the Czechs when the latter can't play in Gothenburg.
Ivan Woods, who played a key role in Sliema Wanderers' win over Valletta in the FA Trophy final, and Etienne Barbara, of German club SC Verle, have been overlooked for selection while George Mallia is out of the reckoning after undergoing surgery to cure a nagging knee injury in Belgium last week.
Mallia, of Birkirkara, is expected to be out for three months.
Hibs striker Terrence Scerri ihas also been left out as he has yet to fully recover from an ankle injury.
The Maltese contingent will fly out to the Czech Republic tomorrow. The friendly against the Czechs will be played in Jablonec, some 100km away from Prague.
Fitzel is expected to omit another player from the 21-man squad today. The Czech mentor is likely to drop a goalkeeper as he has three in the list but he has delayed his decision until after training this morning as wing-back Clayton Failla is struggling with a groin injury.
Malta's latest squad features two newcomers as Australian-based players Manny Muscat and John Hutchinson received their first call-up.
Muscat, 24, is a defender and plays for Wellington Phoenix while the 29-year-old Hutchinson is a midfielder on the books of Central Coast Mariners.
The two uncapped players arrived in Malta last weekend.
Malta squad
Goalkeepers: J. Haber, A. Hogg, M. Muscat.
Defenders: A. Agius, I. Azzopardi, S. Bajada, J. Caruana, L. Dimech, A. Muscat, E. Muscat, K. Scicluna.
Midfielders: R. Briffa, A. Cohen, C. Failla, R. Fenech, J. Hutchinson, J. Pace, K. Sammut.
Forwards: D. Bogdanovic, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, A. Schembri.