Mamo pins hopes on medical team

Carlo Mamo faces an uphill struggle to regain his fitness ahead of the Euro 2012 Group F qualifier against Croatia but the left-back is comforted by the knowledge that the national team’s medical team will do everything in their capacity to accelerate his recovery.

The Marsaxlokk captain is rated highly doubtful for Wednesday’s match after he picked up a thigh strain while training with his club last week but this didn’t stop John Buttigieg from selecting Mamo in his squad after the Malta coach received the MFA’s go-ahead to bring 19 players to Zagreb.

“When I spoke to the medical staff about my injury, they told me that I have a strain in my quad,” Mamo told The Times.

“This kind of injury could take from one to two weeks to heal but the advantage of being here is that I can be attended to by the national team’s medics and they are the best people to be with.”

Mamo was sanguine about his chances of shaking off his injury in time to line up against Croatia.

“I have no idea,” was Mamo’s prompt reply when asked whether he was confident of recovering ahead of Wednesday. “The injury is receding but at present, I can’t stride or shoot. The coach has another 18 players available for selection, so we’re covered. He knows that there is a risk that I may not make it. The doctor suggested that I be included in the squad and to me that shows that I have a chance of recovering.

“My wish is to extend my run in the first team after I featured in the first three qualifiers. The opportunity to play against a strong team like Croatia doesn’t come along every week. I’m hoping to be involved but I’ve also got to think about my club and we have an important game at the weekend.”

It says all about Buttigieg’s high esteem for Mamo that he has named him in Malta’s travelling party despite the former Tarxien Rainbows, Birkirkara and Sliema defender not being fully fit.

Mamo is understandably grateful to Buttigieg for giving him the chance to resurrect his career that looked as good as over in light of the 31-year-old’s five-year absence from the national pool.

“I’m delighted to be back,” Mamo said. “I had been out of the national squad for around five years. Every Maltese player wants to be part of the national team. It’s also a source of motivation because the experiences you go through with Malta are unique as the standard of football at international level is distinctly higher than that of our domestic competitions.”

Wednesday’s clash at the Maksimir Stadium promises to be a gruelling test for Malta, what with Croatia determined to claim the three points to wrest the initiative from Greece in Group F.

“There isn’t much to say about the match,” Mamo said. “Croatia’s only objective is to get the three points. They have a very strong team full of players who turn out in Europe’s top leagues. They are the best team in the group.”

Meanwhile, the Maltese contingent, led by Bjorn Vassallo and Alex Manfre, CEO and vice-president of the Malta FA respectively, touched down in Zagreb late yesterday afternoon.

After checking into the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel, the squad headed for a light training session at a nearby pitch.

Sheffield United forward Daniel Bogdanovic joined his international team-mates yesterday while Ferencvaros duo Justin Haber and Andre Schembri are expected to arrive in Zagreb today.

As they strolled into the reception of the hotel, the Malta players were met with hordes of TV crews and photographers who gathered here to film the arrival of the Croatian team.

The bulk of Slaven Bilic’s squad convened at the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel yesterday before heading off to their training base, the Terme Catez resort in Slovenia.

The remaining players in Croatia’s party are due to report for international duty today.