Valletta striker Michael Mifsud is set to be out of action for three to four weeks after suffering a hamstring injury during the Citizens’ 3-0 Premier League win over Mosta last weekend.
Mifsud came off soon after scoring his second goal, from a penalty, on Sunday, making way for club captain Gilbert Agius on the hour mark. A scan revealed that Mifsud had suffered a tear in his left hamstring which is likely to keep him sidelined for up to a month.
News of Mifsud’s injury lay-off is a blow for Valletta ahead of their eagerly-awaited match against Hibs on Sunday.
Besides being a top-of-the-table clash between two teams that are still unbeaten after four games, Sunday’s clash between Valletta and Hibernians has assumed added significance as the Citizens have now equalled the Paolites’ record for the longest unbeaten run in the league.
Mifsud’s absence will be regarded as a setback for Valletta who will set a new mark of 38 games without defeat if they win or draw in their next match.
The diagnosis also raises question marks over Mifsud’s fitness for Malta’s final Euro 2012 Group F qualifiers away to Latvia (October 7) and at home to Israel (October 11).
It is the second time in the space of a few weeks that Mifsud has sustained a hamstring injury.
Last month, the Malta captain spent a few weeks on the sidelines after feeling a tweak in his right thigh during Valletta’s 3-0 defeat of Floriana in the BOV Super Cup.
Mifsud sat out Valletta’s opening two league matches – he was an unused substitute in the 2-0 win over Ħamrun Spartans – but recovered to play for Malta in the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Croatia and Georgia, scoring two goals in the process.
Valletta are also concerned about the fitness of goalkeeper Andrew Hogg who has also been beset with a hamstring problem in recent weeks.
The Malta goalkeeper, who was substituted by the up-and-coming Yenz Cini in the closing stages of Sunday’s game, didn’t finish the training session with the national squad on Tuesday but his injury is not thought to be serious.
Meanwhile, Nikola Vukanac has flown to Malta with a view to opening contract talks with Birkirkara.
Vukanac was not offered a new deal in the summer after spending two seasons with Birkirkara but the former Malta champions have turned to the 25-year-old Serbian as they look to address their defensive problems.
The Stripes are keen to bolster their back line with the signing of an experienced centre-half after the team shipped five goals in their last two games, a 3-0 defeat to Hibs and a 2-2 draw with Mqabba.
It remains to be seen whether Birkirkara manage to conclude a deal with Vukanac in time for the latter to be eligible to play in Saturday’s match against Sliema Wanderers.
Elsewhere, Balzan Youths are hopeful of getting the all-clear to parade their latest signing, striker Kris Bright, in their clash with fellow promoted side Mqabba on Sunday.
Bright, a 25-year-old forward who has represented New Zealand at all levels, last played for Hunga-rian club Budapest Honved.
Coleiro ponders
Tarxien Rainbows have asked coach Noel Coleiro to reconsider his deci-sion to resign.
Coleiro stepped down from his post in the wake of Tarxien’s 4-1 defeat to Qormi last weekend but the club’s committee yesterday unanimously agreed to ask Coleiro to reverse his decision.
Coleiro, who has been in charge of Tarxien for the past five years, was expected to hold a meeting with the club’s senior players yesterday evening to exchange ideas about the reasons behind the team’s poor start to the season.
In the meantime, the club have put Michael Degiorgio, the head coach of the Tarxien nursery, and Michael Church, Coleiro’s assistant, in temporary charge of the team ahead of Saturday’s match against Mosta.