Firas Aboulezz... player award.Firas Aboulezz... player award.

Malta coach Pietro Ghedin has included two new faces in his initial squad for the June 8 friendly against Lithuania and the Euro 2016 qualifier against Bulgaria four days later.

Balzan defender Clive Brincat and Tarxien midfielder Firas Aboulezz were named in the 24-man list issued yesterday.

Brincat, 31, has enjoyed a very positive season with Balzan, who secured a place in the Europa League after finishing fourth in the championship, while the 29-year-old Aboulezz was instrumental in helping Tarxien avoid relegation.

His influential performances in the decisive relegation clashes have earned Aboulezz the BOV player of the month award for May.

Captain Michael Mifsud, of Sliema, is back in Ghedin’s plans after recovering from a shin injury, having also completed a two-match ban following his dismissal in the 1-0 home defeat to Italy.

There has also been a recall for Birkirkara left-back Joseph Zerafa.

Ghedin will be without a host of key players for next month’s games as Valletta midfielder Ryan Fenech has been ruled out with a knee injury. He joins fellow club-mates Steve Borg and Jonathan Caruana on the sidelines.

Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg is another notable absentee after fracturing his finger during training with his Greek club Kalloni.

The squad

Goalkeepers: J. Haber (Birkirkara), H. Bonello (Hibs), G. Zammit (Sliema).

Defenders: A. Agius (Hibernians), C. Gatt Baldacchino (Sliema), C. Brincat (Balzan), R. Camilleri (Valletta), C. Failla (Hibs), E. Herrera (Birkirkara), A. Muscat (Sliema), Z. Muscat (Birkirkara), J. Zerafa (Birkirkara).

Midfielders: F. Aboulezz (Tarxien ), R. Briffa (Valletta), P. Fenech (Birkirkara), B. Kristensen (Hibs), R. Muscat (Birkirkara), S. Pisani (Floriana), A. Schembri (O. Nicosia), R. Scicluna (Birkirkara).

Forwards: A. Cohen (Hibs), A. Effiong (Qormi), M. Mifsud (Sliema), T. Vella (Birkirkara).

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