Floriana’s in-form defender Emanuel Briffa and Luke Montebello, the Tarxien Rainbows forward, have been called up to the senior Malta squad for the first time after both were named in Pietro Ghedin’s final 20-man list for Wednesday’s friendly match against Jordan in Istanbul.

Briffa and Montebello are joined by fellow Malta Under-21 players Llywelyn Cremona, the Valletta midfielder, and Birkirkara winger Ryan Camenzuli in receiving Ghedin’s nod to make the trip to Turkey this evening but Rowen Muscat has not been selected.

Muscat’s omission is sure to be met with a few raised eyebrows as the midfielder has been one of Malta’s outstanding performers in the recently-concluded Euro 2016 qualifying campaign but his absence from Birkirkara’s squad for Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Floriana cast serious doubts over his participation in Wednesday’s friendly.

Ryan Camenzuli (left) and Emanuel Briffa during training, yesterday.

The official line was that Muscat was unfit to play on Saturday as he was suffering from a virus but Ghedin decided to drop the 25-year-old for disciplinary reasons.

Muscat’s absence from yesterday’s training session is believed to be a factor in Ghedin’s decision to leave him out of the squad.

With Valletta defender Jonathan Caruana still sidelined with a groin injury, Ghedin’s defensive resources have been further weakened by the withdrawal of Birkirkara’s Zach Muscat and Ryan Camilleri, of Valletta.

Both Muscat and Camilleri have had to pull out of the squad after suffering injuries during last weekend’s BOV Premier League matches.

Ghedin has added Owen Bugeja, the Pembroke Athleta defender, to his squad. Bugeja has put in a series of strong performances in the heart of Pembroke’s defence in the last few games.

Malta captain Michael Mifsud and Roderick Briffa have been retained after both figured for Sliema Wanderers and Valletta respectively last weekend following a spell on the sidelines due to injuries.

The friendly against Jordan is Malta’s last assignment this year and the selection of four up-and-coming youngsters underlines Ghedin’s willingness to freshen up his squad ahead of the start of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign next year.

Three established players, Birkirkara goalkeeper Justin Haber, Hibs midfielder Andrew Cohen and Alex Muscat, the Sliema Wanderers wing-back, have been left out of the squad for Wednesday’s friendly at the Maltepe Stadium.

Malta squad

Goalkeepers: H. Bonello (Valletta), A. Hogg (Kalloni FC).

Defenders: A. Agius (Hibernians), S. Borg (Aris FC), E. Briffa (Floriana), R. Camenzuli (Birkirkara), C. Failla (Hibernians), J. Zerafa (Birkirkara), O. Bugeja (Pembroke).

Midfielders: R. Briffa (Valletta), L. Cremona (Valletta), G. Sciberras (Birkirkara), P. Fenech (Birkirkara), A. Schembri (Omonia Nicosia), B. Kristensen (Hibernians), C. Borg (Floriana).

Forwards: M. Mifsud (Sliema Wanderers), L. Montebello (Tarxien Rainbows), T. Vella (Qormi), A. Effiong (Balzan).