Silvio Vella says his players have a point to prove when they open their 2019 UEFA U-21 Championship qualifying campaign against Belgium, in Louvain, tonight (kick-off: 20.00).

The U-21s had a rough build-up to today’s Group Six opener after conceding a hammering 5-0 de-feat to Luxembourg, in Kehlen, on Thursday in a match heavily conditioned by the early dismissal of defender Jean Borg.

“It wasn’t the best week of preparation before taking on one of the top sides in our group,” Vella told the Times of Malta yesterday.

“For us the friendly against Luxembourg was our last opportunity to try out some new tactical ploys ahead of the qualifiers but Jean Borg’s sending off, a very harsh decision in my opinion, scuppered our plans and we ended up suffering a heavy defeat.

“But that’s in the past now and we are now focusing solely on our next match against Belgium where I expect a strong reaction from the players.

“Perhaps, the other teams in the group have already written us off but this is a good occasion for the players to put their foot down and show they deserve the respect of our opponents.”

U-21 coach Silvio Vella (right) and his assistant Noel Turner.

Vella is expected to effect a few changes from the team that lost to Luxembourg in midweek with Jake Galea set to return in goal following the withdrawal of Philip Schranz due to an injury.

Midfielder Jake Grech is also likely to force his way into the team after failing to be involved at the Stade Albert Berchem.

Vella knows a thing or two about the Belgian U-21s, given that they were also in Malta’s qualifying group in the previous UEFA campaign.

“Belgium are a very talented team at this level of the game as previous results have shown. So, we have to adopt a very cautious approach against them to reach our objectives,” Vella said.

“Most of the players in my squad will be making their first competitive showing at this level. We are counting on them and they know they will have to produce their best effort and be on their game right from the outset.

“We have to be very disciplined tactically and show great organisation and cohesion in our play to make it more difficult for Belgium on their own home soil.”

The other teams in qualifying Group Six are Sweden, Turkey, Hungary and Cyprus.

Malta Under-21 squad

Goalkeepers: Jake Galea (St Andrews); Matthew Grech (Floriana).

Defenders: Jean Borg (Valletta); Michele Sansone (Sliema Wanderers); Karl Micallef (Ħamrun Spartans); Nikolai Muscat (San Ġwann); Dunstan Vella (Hibernians); Kurt Zammit (Tarxien Rainbows).

Midfielders: Myles Beerman (Rangers, Scotland); Jurgen Suda (Pietà Hotspurs); Juan Corbalan (Gżira United); Jake Grech (Ħamrun Spartans); Matthew Guillaumier (Birkirkara); Zachary Scerri (Gżira United).

Forwards: Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians); Aidan Friggieri (St Andrews); Joseph Mbong (NK Inter Zapresic, Croatia); Kyran Nwoko (St Andrews).