National coach Pietro Ghedin has named a group of 22 players to form part of the Malta ‘B’ squad.
With the collaboration of the Malta Football Association Technical Centre, headed by Robert Gatt, Ghedin has created this new squad to work closely with interesting players who have established themselves at club level and could be in contention for selection to the national senior squad for future games.
Ghedin and his technical staff will oversee two training sessions for the ‘B’ squad players during the international week to evaluate their potential as well as to prepare them for a potential call-up to the senior squad.
The ‘B’ selection is also intended to fill the void between the U-21 and the senior squad as there are several former U-21s who don’t make the step-up to the A squad immediately.
The 22-strong list announced by Ghedin features several players who have represented Malta at U-21 level, including two from Gozo, goalkeeper Steve Sultana, of Xewkija Tigers, and Ferdinando Apap, the Għajnsielem defender.
Ghedin has also named a host of players who have featured for Malta at senior level, namely Terence Vella, currently playing for Division One club Senglea Athletic, Birkirkara’s Cain Attard, Valletta midfielder Llywelyn Cremona and Tarxien Rainbows winger Ayrton Azzopardi.
Vella has 11 Malta caps, Cremona three while Attard and Azzopardi have made one appearance at senior level.
Brandon Paiber, who joined Ħamrun Spartans in the January transfer window, has been named in the ‘B’ squad along with club-mates Luke Grech and Siraj Arab.
The two training sessions for the players selected to join the ‘B’ squad are scheduled for next Tuesday and Thursday at the Malta FA Training Grounds.
Ghedin has just named a provisional 23-strong squad for Malta’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on March 26 at the National Stadium.
Malta ‘B’ squad
Goalkeepers: J. Borg (Gżira United); S. Sultana (Xewkija Tigers).
Defenders: F. Apap (Għajnsielem); L. Grech (Ħamrun); C. Attard (Birkirkara); M. Tabone, S. Borg (both Tarxien); T. Tabone Desira (Hibs); M. Johnson (St Andrews); D. Zerafa (Tarxien).
Midfielders: L. Cremona (Valletta); T. Agius (Balzan); T. Caruana (Tarxien); J. Bezzina (Hibernians); G. Aquilina (Sliema); D. Camilleri (St Andrews); B. Paiber (Ħamrun).
Forwards: L. Micallef (Balzan); A. Azzopardi (Tarxien); S. Arab (Ħamrun); R. Micallef (Rabat Ajax); T. Vella (Senglea Athletic).