Daniel Bogdanovic has pulled out of Malta’s squad for Friday’s Euro 2012 Group F qualifier away to Latvia after suffering a hamstring strain just before scoring his second goal in Blackpool’s 5-0 rout of Bristol City last Saturday.
The 31-year-old striker earned the plaudits last weekend as he opened his Blackpool account with a well-taken brace after replacing Gary Taylor-Fletcher 19 minutes from time but the minor hamstring injury has shattered his hopes of linking up with the Malta squad ahead of their trip to Riga tomorrow.
“I will have an MRI scan on my hamstring on Thursday,” Bogdanovic, who featured as a second-half substitute in the 1-1 home draw with Georgia, told The Times yesterday. “I picked up the injury just before scoring my second goal on Saturday.
“I’m disappointed to miss the game against Latvia as the national team is important for me. Every time I’ve been called up to play for my country, I’ve always given it maximum priority.
“Not many people know this but I lost my place with Sheffield United in the summer in order to make myself available for the friendly against the Central African Republic.
“I’ve been advised to rest but I hope to recover from this problem by the end of the week. My concern is not to aggravate the injury and risk being sidelined for a longer period of time.”
Bogdanovic was thrilled to notch his first goals since joining Blackpool from Sheffield United on transfer deadline day.
“When you’re at a new club, you have to wait for your chance,” he said. “I did well after coming on as a substitute in midweek against Coventry (2-2) and took my chance when I entered the fray in the game against Bristol City.
“I’m getting there slowly. There is no need to rush. The competition for places is very strong because there are many good players here.
“This is without doubt the strongest team I’ve played for since coming to England. The coach (Ian Holloway) is very good, he likes to attack.”
Although Bogdanovic’s goal is to break into the first team, he accepts that he’s not going to start all games.
“I’m working hard to establish myself in the first team but in the Championship, few players start regularly because the coaches like to refresh their squad as teams play every three or four days.
“I always do my best to be ready whenever I get the chance to play.”
Meanwhile, news that Bogdanovic has been ruled out of Friday’s game is a further blow for national coach John Buttigieg.
Captain Michael Mifsud has been included in Malta’s provisional squad but his chances of recovering from a hamstring tear in time to play in Latvia are very remote.
The Malta FA yesterday clarified that Clayton Failla is part of the provisional squad for the next two qualifiers after the Hibs wing-back had been erroneously left out of the list of players sent to the media last weekend.