Alex Cini

Pembroke Athleta defender Alex Cini was a surprise addition to Pietro Ghedin’s provisional squad of 27 players for the European Championship Group H qualifiers against Italy and Azerbaijan.

Last week, Cini played his part as Pembroke marked their debut in the top flight of Maltese football with a 2-1 win over Qormi.

Cini, 24, joined Pembroke this summer from Mosta FC after a loan period at Tarxien Rainbows.

Malta, bottom of the group with one point from six matches, play second-placed Italy away in Florence next Thursday and host Azerbaijan three days later at the National Stadium.

Ghedin will be trimming his squad to 23 players ahead of the trip to Italy following this week’s Premier League programme of matches between tomorrow and Saturday.

The Italian coach has again opted to consider Ayrton Azzopardi for selection and there was also a return to the squad for Birkirkara midfielder Gareth Sciberras.

Azzopardi, 21, had made his debut for the national team in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign when coming on as a late substitute in the away match against the Czech Republic, in Plzen, in October 2012.

The provisional squad includes three players currently on the books of foreign teams – goalkeeper Andrew Hogg (AEL Kalloni, Greece), defender Steve Borg (Aris Limassol, Cyprus) and striker Andre Schembri (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus).

Meanwhile, Under-21 coach Silvio Vella also announced his squad for the country’s next two UEFA Championship qualifiers, both away from home.

Malta U-21 play against Czech Republic tomorrow week and Montenegro four days later.

The Czechs will be opening their group commitments against Malta who beat Latvia 2-1 away and drew 0-0 against Moldova, in Chisinau, in their first two ties.

Among the players in Vella’s selection is Sam Magri, the UK-based midfielder who holds dual citizenship.

Magri, formerly of Portsmouth and Crystal Palace, this season is playing for Conference League side Dover Athletic.

The squad

Keepers: H. Bonello, J. Haber, A. Hogg, G. Zammit.

Defenders: A. Agius, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, J. Caruana, A. Cini, A. Muscat, Z. Muscat, J. Zerafa, C. Failla.

Midfielders: A. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, A. Cohen, P. Fenech, D. Grima, B. Kristensen, R. Muscat, S. Pisani, G. Sci-berras.

Forwards: A. Effiong, M. Mifsud, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, A. Schembri, T. Vella.

Under-21 squad

Keepers: J. Borg, M. Calleja Cremona.

Defenders: S. Arab, C. Attard, E. Briffa, S. Magri, K. Micallef, M. Johnson, D. Zerafa.

Midfielders: T. Agius, J. Bezzina, C. Borg, R. Camenzuli, K. Cesare, L. Cremona, B. Muscat.

Forwards: J. Degabriele, J. Mbong, L. Montebello, K. Zammit.