Malta captain Michael Mifsud holds the Melbourne Heart shirt after signing a one-year deal with the A-League club yesterday. Photo: Mark Avellino

Michael Mifsud is determined to prove his worth in a new country and a new league after finalising his move to Australian club Melbourne Heart.

The 32-year-old Malta captain put pen to paper on a one-year deal yesterday after agreeing terms with the A-League outfit last week.

“I will do my best to help Melbourne Heart reach their objective of winning the league title,” Mifsud told Times of Malta.

“As for my personal ambitions, I’m just looking forward to giving my 100 per cent in every match.

“I want to establish myself in the team and make a name for myself in a new country.”

Recognised as one of the best players in the history of Maltese football, Mifsud has enjoyed positive spells with a host of foreign clubs, namely Kaiser-slautern, Lillestrom, Coventry City and Barnsley.

Apart from Sliema Wanderers, the club where he grew up at, Mifsud also turned out for Valletta and Qormi.

His switch to Melbourne Heart has been widely perceived as a positive step for Mifsud who made no secret of his desire to sign for an overseas club after ending a two-year spell with Valletta last May.

Not for the first time in his career, Mifsud has defied scepticism about his chances of securing a deal with an overseas club after a stint in the Maltese league.

“I’m a reserved person,” Mifsud said. “I don’t like to speak about myself but I was 100 per cent convinced that I would get another chance to play abroad.

“I’m very confident in my abilities. I received offers from a number of clubs.

“I was unlucky not to sign for a club in Spain and one in France.

“There was also interest from an Italian Serie B club as well as teams from Iraq and Kuwait. A Greek club also offered me a contract but I was not prepared to rush.

I want to establish myself in the team and make a name for myself in a new country

“I preferred to wait until the right opportunity came along and Melbourne Heart’s proposal just felt right for me.”

Mifsud also confirmed that he had talks with Sliema Wanderers.

“I did consider the proposal made by Sliema Wanderers,” he said.

“After speaking to the club officials, I was close to joining them but I opted to wait.

“I still want to end my career with Sliema but I haven’t reached that stage yet. I feel that I can still flourish in a foreign league.”

Mifsud is pleased with the welcome he has received at Melbourne Heart.

“I’ve been warmly welcomed by the players, coaching staff and officials,” Mifsud said.

“I’m delighted to have joined Melbourne Heart.”

Mifsud’s move to a far country like Australia could raise concerns about his readiness to play for Malta in the near future but he has dismissed such fears.

“It’s far from Malta and there’s a lot of travelling involved but I love the national team,” Mifsud said.

“The national team is always in my heart and nothing will stop me from wearing the Malta shirt.”

Mifsud confirmed as much at his unveiling yesterday, telling reporters that he will miss Melbourne Heart’s opening-day derby against Victory on October 12 as the day before he is expected to make his 100th appearance for the national team in the World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic.

“I have to go back home. It’s unfortunate for me that I’ll miss the first game, it’s going to be a good game and good crowd,” Mifsud was quoted as saying.

“But it’s always an honour to play for the national team, especially with my 100th cap, I can’t miss that.”

The light-footed striker made his 99th appearance for Malta in last week’s 2-1 defeat to Bulgaria. He is the country’s all-time leading scorer with 37 goals.

Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi is confident that Mifsud will add bite to his team’s attack.

“He is an exciting footballer and will be a dynamic influence in our attack,” Aloisi said.

“As the captain of Malta he has played against the very best teams in the world and held his own.

“It’s not easy to lead the line against the likes of Italy and Croatia and test those defences, something which he has done regularly.”