Agius making his mark for Melfi

Andrei Agius has shown SS Cassino what they are missing after the Malta defender turned in a top-notch performance in AS Melfi's 2-0 victory over his former team on Sunday.

The 23-year-old joined AS Melfi on loan last month in search of regular first-team football after being restricted to seven league starts for SS Cassino in the first five months of the season.

Having quickly established himself as a first-choice player at AS Melfi, Agius further vindicated coach Paolo Rodolfi's faith in him last weekend with a confident display in the heart of defence.

"Some interventions are truly from a superior category," Il Quotidiano della Basilicata said in awarding Agius 6.5 for his showing.

"A courageous performance against his ex-squad," another regional newspaper, La Nuova del Sud, reported.

"The Maltese footballer showed great commitment during the 90 minutes of play. It was a good move by Melfi to have plucked him (Agius) away from Cassino who failed to properly value the player."

La Nuova del Sud's vote for Agius's performance was 6.5.

In giving Agius a beaming 7, La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno said: "He eagerly awaited his former team-mates and delivered a massive performance."

Since sealing his short-term loan move to AS Melfi in the first week of January, Agius has not missed one league game as the team from the Basilicata region achieved four wins from their last five outings to climb to a mid-table position in the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione C, level with SS Cassino on 31 points.

Agius is expected to be named in Malta's squad for the friendly against Finland at the National Stadium on March 3.