Provisional Malta squad for CAR warm-up

Malta coach John Buttigieg yesterday named a provisional 25-man squad for the home friendly against Central African Republic (CAR) on August 10.

Sliema wing-back Alex Muscat has been recalled after recovering from a long-term knee injury but there is no place for veteran Hibs keeper Mario Muscat and Valletta midfielder Kevin Sammut.

Birkirkara’s Shaun Bajada has also been left out as he is recu-perating from an ankle operation.

The 2009/10 Footballer of the Year is expected to be sidelined for up to four months after going under the knife to repair torn ankle liga-ments at the clinic of Belgian sur-geon Marc Marteens.

John Hutchinson, now at Chinese side Chengdu Blades on loan from Central Coast Mariners, is another conspicuous absentee from the provisional selection.

The friendly against the Central African Republic, ranked 89th by FIFA, is part of Malta’s prepa-rations for the remaining Euro 2012 Group F qualifiers, starting with the home clash against Croatia on September 2.

Due to ongoing works at the National Stadium, only the Millenium Stand will be open for the CAR friendly.

Meanwhile, Buttigieg and Ivan Vella, the national teams manager, flew to Brazil yesterday ahead of Saturday’s draw for the qualifying round of the 2014 World Cup.

The squad
Goalkeepers: J. Haber (Kerkyra), A. Hogg (Valletta), R. Gauci (Marsaxlokk).
Defenders: A. Agius (AS Melfi), S. Borg (Valletta), R. Briffa (Valletta), J. Caruana (Valletta), C. Failla (Sliema Wanderers), E. Herrera (Hibs), C. Mamo (Marsaxlokk), A. Muscat (Sliema), K. Scicluna (Valletta), J. Zerafa (Birkirkara).
Midfielders: T. Cilia (Birkirkara), P. Fenech (Birkirkara), R. Fenech (Val-letta), J. Mintoff (Floriana), J. Pace (Valletta), G. Sciberras (Birkirkara), I. Woods (Floriana).
Forwards: A. Cohen (Hibs), M. Mifsud (Valletta), C. Caruana (Floriana), A. Schembri (O. Volos), D. Bogdanovic (Sheffield Utd).