Malta U-21 coach Ray ‘Zazu’ Farrugia included five new faces in his squad as the list of players for the two upcoming home Euro Championship qualifiers was trimmed to 20 yesterday.
Sliema midfielder Mark Scerri is out of the double-header against Ukraine, on Friday, and Lithuania, on Tuesday, to serve suspension while Pietà Hotspurs defender Ishmael Grech and Marsaxlokk striker Jean Paul Farrugia are both sidelined through injury.
The Malta U-21 coach, who opted for two extra players for the two matches at the Gozo Stadium, handed Lydon Micallef his first call-up. The Balzan striker impressed in training after joining the group last month.
Mosta duo, Kane Paul Farrugia and Sheldon Grech, Balzan midfielder Dylan Grima and Pietà Hotspurs defender Cleaven Cassar all made the final list after missing the cut last month for the matches against Slovenia and Finland.
Farrugia will conduct his morning training session at Ta’ Qali today before the U-21s make the trip to Gozo to start their final preparations for Friday’s match.
Malta are currently fourth in Group 2 with four points from four matches. They will be urged to put behind them last month’s disappointing performances which saw them go down to Slovenia (4-1) and Finland (2-1) at the Hibs Stadium.
Slovenia are currently leading the way in the group with nine points, two ahead of Finland.
Sweden, who have only played two matches, are third on six points. Ukraine and Lithuania languish behind Malta in the standings as both are yet to win a point in the group.
The squad
Goalkeepers: D. Balzan (St Andrews), S. Sultana (Qormi).
Defenders: O. Bugeja (Floriana), Y. Camilleri (Balzan), C. Cassar (Pietà H.), K.P. Farrugia (Mosta), M. Gauci (Ħamrun Spartans), L. Martinelli (Mosta), Z. Muscat (Pietà H.).
Midfielders: C. Borg (Floriana), T. Caruana (Hibernians), S. Grech (Mosta), D. Grima (Balzan), B. Kristensen (Hibernians), R. Muscat (Birkirkara).
Forwards: M. Ciantar (Balzan), L. Grech (Birkirkara), L. Micallef (Balzan), S. Pisani (Hibernians), T. Vella (Birkirkara).