Luke Gambin is in line to earn his first cap for Malta after the Barnet winger was included in Pietro Ghedin’s final squad for the upcoming friendlies against Euro 2016 contenders Czech Republic and Austria.
The 23-year-old Gambin is not the only new face in the 20-man selection as Birkirkara wing-back Cain Attard got his first senior call-up, yesterday.
Gambin will be keen to impress the national coach in his first appearance since he received his Maltese passport last week.
Missing from the Malta squad are defenders Jonathan Caruana, of Valletta, and Birkirkara’s Joseph Zerafa. Both are ruled out by injury.
Steve Borg, who plays for Aris Limassol in Cyprus, failed to make the cut leaving Zach Muscat, of SS Akragas, and Pavia’s Rowen Muscat as the other foreign-based players in the squad.
Attacking midfielder Andre Schembri was not selected as he is getting married next month.
The squad leaves for Munich this morning from where they will travel to Bad Haring, in Austria, which will be their base ahead of their warm-up matches.
On Friday, Malta play the Czechs at the Kufstein Stadium before facing Austria at the Worthersee Arena, in Klagenfurt, on Tuesday.
In Euro 2016, the Czech Republic were paired in the same group as holders Spain, Turkey and Croatia. Austria are in Group F along with Portugal, Iceland and Hungary.
The last time Malta played the Czechs was in a World Cup qualifier in 2013 at Ta’ Qali. The eastern Europeans won 4-1.
Malta only managed one draw from nine matches against Austria.
The last time the two nations met was in Graz, in 2008. Austria won the friendly 5-1.
The squad
Goalkeepers: H. Bonello (Valletta), J. Haber (Hibernians).
Defenders: A. Agius (Hibs), C. Attard (Birkirkara), R. Camenzuli (Birkirkara), R. Camilleri (Valletta), C. Failla (Hibernians), C. Gatt Baldacchino (Sliema), Z. Muscat (Akragas).
Midfielders: R. Briffa (Valletta), L. Cremona (Valletta), P. Fenech (Balzan), B. Kristensen (Hibernians), R. Muscat (Pavia), S. Pisani (Floriana), G. Sciberras (Birkirkara).
Forwards: A. Effiong (Balzan), J.P. Farrugia (Sliema), L. Gambin (Barnet), M. Mifsud (Valletta).