Myles BeermanMalta U-21 coach Silvio Vella yesterday named a provisional 22-man squad for his side’s 2017 UEFA Under-21 Group One qualifier against Belgium on September 2.
Valletta midfielder Jean Borg and Myles Beerman, who plays for the youth team of English club Manchester City, have been included in Vella’s initial squad but England-based defender Sam Magri is not on the list.
With Dover Athletic, Magri’s non-league team in England, playing the day after the U-21s’ clash with Belgium, the former QPR trainee has told coach Vella that he was concerned about losing his first-team place with his club if he skipped their game against Southport to join up with his international team-mates.
Magri’s reservations prompted Vella to leave him out of his squad.
Also missing from Vella’s selection are Floriana’s right-back Emanuel Briffa and Pietà Hotspurs midfielder Kyle Cesare. The Malta U-21 duo have been provisionally suspended by the MFA as both are facing charges over the alleged attempt to fix the Malta U-21 home qualifiers against Montenegro (0-1) and the Czech Republic (0-7) in March.
Malta have five points from seven games.
Malta U-21 squad
Goalkeepers: Y. Cini (Mosta); M. Calleja Cremona (Pembroke Athleta); J. Borg (Gżira United).
Defenders: Samir Arab (Balzan); C. Attard (Birkirkara); J. Borg (Valletta); M. Johnson (St Andrew’s); K. Micallef (Pietà H.); D. Zerafa (Tarxien).
Midfielders: M. Beerman (Manchester City); J. Bezzina (Hibs); J. Brincat (Birkirkara); R. Camenzuli (Birkirkara); L. Cremona (Valletta); J. Grech (Ħamrun Spartans); M. Guillaumier (Birkirkara); B. Muscat (Pembroke).
Forwards: Siraj Arab (Pembroke); J. Degabriele (Hibs); J. Mbong (Hibs); L. Montebello (Pembroke); K. Zammit (Tarxien).