Birkirkara midfielder Rowen Muscat and Zach Muscat, the up-and-coming Pietà Hotspurs youngster, have been included in the Malta U-21 squad for tomorrow’s friendly against Hungary after both had initially been considered for selection to the senior team for the warm-up against Liechtenstein.

The two promising players had been training with the Malta A squad after being named in Robert Gatt’s provisional list last month but it has been decided that both stand to gain greater benefits by playing for Ray Farrugia’s U-21 team.

Zach Muscat has impressed with Pietà Hotspurs this season and is set to have a trial with English championship side Barnsley.

As far as Rowen Muscat is concerned, his chances of making his senior debut were undermined by an ankle problem which kept him out of action for three weeks.

Farrugia has drafted two new players into his squad, namely Mosta’s Jonathan Bajada and Ryan Scicluna, of Birkirkara.

Sliema midfielder Mark Scerri misses out with a groin injury while Leighton Grech, who last month joined Vittoriosa Stars on loan from Birkirkara, has been left out.

Tomorrow’s friendly against Hungary is part of Malta’s build-up for their remaining three UEFA U-21 qualifiers against Slovenia, Sweden and Ukraine, all away.

Farrugia’s boys have gained five points from their first six Group Two qualifiers.

Malta U-21 squad
Goalkeepers: A. Parnis (Xewkija Tigers); S. Sultana (Qormi).

Defenders: O. Bugeja (Floriana); Y. Camilleri (Balzan Youths); M. Gauci (Ħamrun Spartans); L. Martinelli (Mosta); Z. Muscat (Pietà ).

Midfielders: J. Bajada, S. Grech (Mosta); C. Borg (Floriana); T. Caruana (Qormi); R. Muscat, R. Scicluna (Birkirkara).

Forwards: M. Ciantar (Balzan); D. Falzon (Naxxar Lions); J.P. Farrugia (Marsaxlokk); S. Pisani (Hibs); T. Vella (Mosta).

Hungary squad
Goalkeepers: P. Gulacsi (Hull); B. Megyeri (Olympiakos).

Defenders: A. Fiola (MVM Paks); G. Janvari (Kaposvari Rakoczi); D. Kalnoki-Kis (MTK Budapest); R. Litauszki, Z. Szokol (Ujpest).

Midfielders: B. Balazs (Kaposvari Rakoczi); A. Bodi (Debreceni); A. Gosztonyi (Videoton); B. Iszlai (Haladas Sopron); I. Kovacs (Videoton); P. Nagy (Ujpest); A. Simon (Palermo).

Forwards: G. Beliczky (Vasas); M. Futacs (Portsmouth); B. Lazar (Ujpest); M. Futacs (MTK Budapest).

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