The past three months have been anything but plainsailing for Jean Paul Farrugia but the new challenges he has had to face have helped him grow and mature as a person. Kevin Azzopardi talks to the striker who could earn his first start for Malta in tomorrow’s Group H qualifier against Bulgaria

Long regarded as one of the brightest prospects of Maltese football, Jean Paul Farrugia, 22, joined Spartak Trnava on a season-long loan from Hibernians last summer after impressing the technical staff of the Slovak club during the Europa League matches between the two clubs.

His efforts to adapt to life as a professional in a new country were interspersed with his endeavours to cope with the step-up from U-21 player to being a member of Malta’s senior squad.

Farrugia is still striving to establish himself at Trnava and with the national side but he is determined more than ever to succeed.

“I think that, with all that happened in the past three months, the most important thing was to keep believing in myself,” Farrugia told Times of Malta in Sofia ahead of tomorrow's Euro 2016 Group H qualifier against Bulgaria.

“I’m not playing regularly for Spartak Trnava and the situation is pretty much the same with the national team. Joining a foreign team for the first time was a very important test but as a footballer, you have to be patient and believe in your abilities.

“I look at these events in a positive rather than a negative way because they help you grow as a professional.

“The coach at Spartak Trnava (Juraj Jarabek) knows that this is my first experience overseas. He is doing things gradually.”

Farrugia has only been used sparingly at Spartak but he has done his best to seize his chance whenever he was called upon.

“After the qualifier against Italy, I was back in Slovakia late,” Farrugia recalled.

“The next day, we had a cup game and the coach told me to have lunch with the team.

“Coming on as a substitute for the last 15 minutes, I scored and provided one assist. It was important for me to do well.

“There was also one occasion when, after flying to Vienna, it took me three hours to get to Trnava by bus.

“Our game against Slovan Bratislava was postponed and we played a friendly instead.

“I played 45 minutes, scored one goal and had a number of assists. From that moment, the coach didn’t want to send me to the second team. He has kept me in the squad, even though I haven’t been playing regularly.'

Spartak are currently fifth on 22 points in the Slovakian championship.

Different life

Farrugia admitted that life as a professional has made him more independent.

“There’s a big difference as now football is my full-time job,' he said.

“We train in the morning and travel a lot for away games. The system is completely different.

“It’s not easy but, as I said, the last three months have helped me a lot. Living on your own is a challenge but you learn to be more independent.”

His long experience with Malta U-21 surely helped Farrugia prepare for his present challenges.

“That was an unforgettable experience,” Farrugia said of the years he spent with the Malta U-21 squad.

“Although we didn't gain positive results in the last qualifying campaign, we still learned a lot from that experience.

“In my last game against Sweden, I received a yellow card for no valid reason in my opinion. That ruled me out of the final qualifier against Turkey and in the last few minutes, I became very emotional as I knew that this was going to be my last appearance for the U-21s.

“I was in tears. One minute you’re playing for the Under-17 team and before you know it, you’re playing your last game for the Under-21s.

“It was a great experience and Ray Farrugia (ex-U-21 coach) was one of the coaches who has helped me most in my career.

“He was always pushing me to aim higher, he changed my mentality. As a coach, he has been a big influence on me and played a substantial role in my dream of playing overseas.”

News that Hibernians had reached an agreement to loan him to Spartak Trnava must have brought joy and relief to Farrugia as the year before he had missed the chance to join Widzew Lodz in Poland.

“Everything was real. I visited the club but it didn’t happen,” he said.

“I was very disappointed. When I returned home, it took me a few months to recover from that setback.'

With captain and first-choice striker Michael Mifsud ruled out of tomorrow's qualifier with suspension, Farrugia is in line to start with Terence Vella the other candidate for the lone forward’s role.

Farrugia relishes the prospect of making his first start for Malta but insisted that his focus in training is the same as before.

“I believe that, sooner or later, your chance will come,” Farrugia observed.

“In football, you have to remain humble and show perseverance.

“I haven't been involved in any of the last four games. My club were very disappointed that I played no part in the friendly against Slovakia (Malta lost 1-0 in September).

“As a Maltese player who had just moved to Slovakia, it would have been nice for the club if I figured in that match but I respect the coach’s decision and I didn’t let that episode affect me.

“My preparation for this game is the same... it’s not like something has changed because Michael Mifsud is suspended.

“At the end of the day, it is the coach's call and whatever his decision, I will respect it.”

Meanwhile, UEFA have informed the Malta FA that Michael Mifsud has been suspended for two games following his red card against Italy. The MFA is due to check if the suspension is to be added to the automatic one-match ban.