Goalkeeper Steve Sultana and centre-back Owen Bugeja were included in the national team provisional squad, announced yesterday by coach Pietro Ghedin, ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifier away at Bulgaria, on Sunday, November 16 (kick-off: 8.45pm).

Ghedin named 25 players in his selection but will be waiting for the next round of BOV Premier League matches this weekend to trim his squad before the trip to Sofia for the national team’s fourth match in Group H.

Malta are still without points after losing three matches – vs Croatia (away 0-2), Norway (home 0-3) and Italy (home 0-1).

Balzan’s Sultana and Bugeja, of Tarxien, were both rewarded for their excellent club form of late. However their chances of making the final cut look slim, particularly for Sultana who has to contend with the more experienced Andrew Hogg, Justin Haber and Nicky Vella in Ghedin’s selection.

Floriana midfielder Brooke Farrugia, still without a Malta cap, has also been included in the provisional list but John Mintoff, of Sliema, is out.

Ghedin can only rely on two strikers – Terence Vella (Naxxar) and Jean Paul Farrugia (Spartak Trnava) – as team captain Michael Mifsud is out with suspension. Defender Steve Borg, of Valletta, is banned for this match.

The squad

Goalkeepers: J. Haber, A. Hogg, S. Sultana, N. Vella.

Defenders: A. Agius, S. Bezzina, O. Bugeja, J. Caruana, C. Gatt Baldacchino, R. Camilleri, C. Failla, J. Grioli, Z. Muscat.

Midfielders: R. Briffa, A. Cohen, B. Farrugia, P. Fenech, R. Fenech, B. Kristensen, R. Muscat, M. Scerri, A. Schembri, R. Scicluna.

Strikers: J.P. Farrugia, T. Vella.

Under-21 friendly

Under 21 coach Silvio Vella has finalised his list of players for the friendly match against Azerbaijan at the Hibernians Stadium on November 16 (kick-off: 3pm).

The squad

Goalkeepers: J. Borg, M. Calleja Cremona, Y. Cini.

Defenders: S. Arab, C. Attard, E. Briffa, G. Cassar, M. Johnson, Z. Tanti.

Midfielders: T. Agius, G. Aquilina, J. Bezzina, A. Borg, R. Camenzuli, K. Cesare, L. Cremona, B. Muscat, K. Muscat, K. Zammit, D. Zerafa,

Strikers: L. Montebello, R. Spiteri.

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