Bojan Kaljevic is expected to form part of Balzan FC’s squad that will be heading to Bosnia this morning for Thursday’s Europa League first qualifying round, second leg, against Zeljeznicar.
The striker was nursing an ankle injury that had ruled him out of action since the closing stages of the 2014-15 season.
However, Kaljevic’s condition has improved considerably in the off-season and coach Oliver Spiteri has decided to include his chief goal scorer in the squad for the trip to Sarajevo.
Kaljevic’s return is a timely shot in the arm for Balzan who, although aware of facing an arduous task of overturning the 0-2 deficit from last week’s first leg at the Hibs Stadium, they are heading to Bosnia determined to get a positive result.
Kaljevic, formerly of Mosta, has been an influential figure in Balzan’s attack since joining last January, netting 12 goals in the second part of last season to help his team finish fourth in the final standings.
Apart from Kaljevic, Spiteri is also buoyed by the availability of new signing Ryan Fenech. The former Valletta midfielder is eligible for Thursday’s match after missing the first leg due to suspension.
Fenech and Kaljevic should give an added impetus in attack as last week Balzan struggled to trouble Zeljeznicar’s defence for most of the match.
Elsewhere, Birkirkara’s qualification hopes suffered a blow yesterday with the news that regular goalkeeper Justin Haber has been ruled out of the second leg against FC Ulisses on Thursday after failing to recover from a thigh injury.
Haber suffered the injury during the first half of last week’s opening leg which ended in a goalless draw.
Yesterday, he underwent a scan that confirmed a strain in his muscle. That meant he was omitted from the squad that left for Armenia last night.
Ini Akpan is now expected to guard Birkirkara’s goal for the second leg where a score draw will be enough for the Stripes to book a possible match-up against crack London side West Ham United in the next round.
The Hammers are favourites to eliminate Andorra minnows Lusitans after winning the opening leg 3-0 at home.
Meanwhile, Italian forward Fabrizio Miccoli is in line to make his first start for Birkirkara after showing remarkable progress in his physical condition during pre-season training.