Luke Gambin has been named in Malta’s provisional squad for the upcoming friendly matches against the Czech Republic (May 27) and Austria (May 31) even though the Barnet FC winger is still waiting for his Maltese passport.
The Malta FA has been working on Gambin’s passport application for several months after he left a very positive impression on national coach Pietro Ghedin during a trial last summer.
While the decision to call up a player who is not yet eligible to represent Malta is likely to cause a few raised eyebrows, it is understood that Ghedin has been reassured that the 23-year-old is set to get hold of his Maltese passport in the coming days.
Gambin is not the only newcomer in Ghedin’s initial selection as Cain Attard has earned his first senior call-up.
Attard, 21, is one of three Birkirkara players in the provisional list, joining team captain Gareth Sciberras and fellow Malta U-21 international Ryan Camenzuli.
Joseph Zerafa hasn’t been selected as he hasn’t fully recovered from a knee injury.
Sliema Wanderers defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino has also been included in the 23-strong roster but team-mate Mark Scerri had no option but to decline the invitation to join the national team’s training as he is going abroad later this month.
Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg, still without a club after severing his ties with Greek side AEL Kalloni a few months back, has been left out as Ghedin has stuck with Valletta’s Henry Bonello and Justin Haber, of Hibs.
Hogg, Malta’s first-choice goalkeeper under Ghedin, is reportedly attracting strong interest from Birkirkara.
Also missing from Ghedin’s squad is experienced forward Andrè Schembri who has asked not to be considered for selection as he is getting married early next month. Next Wednesday, Schembri is expected to play in the Cyprus Cup final between his club Omonia Nicosia and Apollon Limassol.
Schembri’s absence leaves Ghedin with three foreign-based players – defenders Zach Muscat and Steve Borg, who play for Akragas and Aris Limassol respectively, and midfielder Rowen Muscat who has just ended his loan spell with AC Pavia.
Valletta have the largest contingent as six of their players have been selected by Ghedin, namely Bonello, Jonathan Caruana, Ryan Camilleri, Roderick Briffa, Llywelyn Cremona and Michael Mifsud.
The warm-up games against the Czechs and Austria, who have both qualified for Euro 2016, will be staged in Austria where Malta will be having a training camp as part of their build-up for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Ghedin will trim his squad to 20 players before the departure to Austria.
Training starts on Monday.
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: H. Bonello (Valletta); J. Haber (Hibernians).
Defenders: A. Agius (Hibs); C. Attard (Birkirkara); S. Borg (Aris Limassol); R. Camenzuli (Birkirkara); R. Camilleri (Valletta); J. Caruana (Valletta); C. Failla (Hibs); C. Gatt Baldacchino (Sliema Wanderers); Z. Muscat (Akragas).
Midfielders: R Briffa (Valletta); L. Cremona (Valletta); P. Fenech (Balzan); L. Gambin (Barnet FC); B. Kristensen (Hibs); R. Muscat (AC Pavia); S. Pisani (Floriana); G. Sciberras (Birkirkara).
Forwards: A. Effiong (Balzan); J.P. Farrugia (Sliema); M. Mifsud (Valletta); L. Montebello (Tarxien Rainbows).