Hutchinson, Muscat in Malta squad

Australia-based players John Hutchinson and Manny Muscat are set to be named in Malta’s squad for the World Cup qualifier away to Portugal on October 14.

Muscat, who plays for A-League club Wellington Phoenix, has already linked up with his international team-mates after flying into Malta last weekend while Hutchinson is expected to arrive today ahead of the squad’s departure to Portugal tomorrow morning.

Malta are jetting out to Portugal early as they are due to play a friendly match against Angola in Vila Real San Antonio on Saturday.

Coach John Buttigieg is expected to take a 20-man squad for the double assignment in Portugal.

The match against Portugal, Malta’s last 2010 World Cup qualifier, will take place in Guimaraes.

Buttigieg is expected to announce his squad during a news conference this afternoon but The Times has information that Muscat and Hutchinson were notified about their call-up some time ago.

Muscat was in Buttigieg’s starting team for last month’s home qualifier against Sweden, who emerged 1-0 winners, but Hutchinson was unavailable for family reasons.

The Central Coast Mariners midfielder made his competitive debut for Malta in the 4-0 defeat away to Sweden.

While Muscat and Hutchinson have received Buttigieg’s nod to make the trip to Portugal, questions hang over the inclusion of the other foreign-based Malta players, namely Andrei Agius, Andare Schembri, Daniel Bogdanovic and goalkeeper Justin Haber.

Alex Muscat, the Sliema wing-back, is out of the equation after aggravating a thigh injury. Ivan Woods, the Sliema captain, has also been ruled out with a hamstring strain. Valletta winger Cleaven Frendo is in the final stages of his rehabilitation from a cruciate operation.

Meanwhile, the Malta FA are believed to be weighing up the possibility of creating a Malta U-23 team.