Daniel Bogdanovic was a major absentee in Malta’s squad selected yesterday by coach John Buttigieg and his assistant Carmel Busuttil for the friendly against Switzerland, at the National Stadium, tomorrow (kick-off: 8.15 p.m.).
Buttigieg finalised his group of 18 players for the national team’s first match of the year at the end of yesterday’s training session at the Ta’ Qali training grounds. The friendly will be Malta’s final test before the home Euro 2012 qualifier against Greece on March 26.
Sheffield United striker Bogdanovic played the full 90 minutes in the Blades’ 0-3 defeat at Ipswich Town on Saturday.
However, he later complained of a strained hamstring that will rule him out of tomorrow’s warm-up match against the Swiss.
Ryan Fenech, who has recently joined Valletta from Ħamrun Spartans, is also sidelined with hamstring trouble. He pulled out in the first half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Ħamrun .
Meanwhile, midfield powerhouse Jamie Pace, who missed Valletta’s last two league matches through injury, was surprisingly certified fit enough to be included in the Malta squad.
Buttigieg is forced to make do without Australia-based John Hutchinson. His A-League club, Central Coast Mariners, opted to retain the services of the defensive midfielder for their upcoming commitments in the domestic championship.
Steve Borg and Reuben Gauci, promoted to the national team fold this year, were both overlooked for tomorrow’s friendly and winger John Mintoff, another new addition to the squad, is recovering from a knee injury.
Birkirkara defender Andrei Agius and Andrew Cohen, the Hibs striker, are back and expected to play a part tomorrow after missing the Euro 2012 qualifier against Croatia due to suspension.
Ferencvaros duo, goalkeeper Justin Haber and attacker Andre Schembri, are the only two foreign-based players in the squad.
Meanwhile, Ray Farrugia has named his first U-21 squad for tomorrow’s friendly against the youth team of Serie A Catania at the Pedana Stadium (kick-off: 3.30 p.m.)
Farrugia, who took over the reins of the U-21s last month, named a number of new faces in the squad including Vittoriosa Stars midfielder Leighton Grech, Melita full-back Luca Martinelli and Hibernians midfielder Steve Pisani.
This warm-up match in Sicily will be the first test for Farrugia and his assistant Ronald Vella. They will look to fine-tune their squad ahead the opening qualifiers from the UEFA U-21 Championship qualifiers in Finland (June 3) and Lithuania (June 7).
Buttigieg’s squad
Goalkeepers: J. Haber (Ferencvaros), A. Hogg (Valletta).
Defenders: A. Agius (Birkirkara), J. Caruana (Valletta), J. Zerafa (Birkirkara), R. Briffa (Valletta), C. Mamo (Marsaxlokk), C. Failla (Sliema), E. Herrera (Hibernians).
Midfielders: I. Woods (Floriana), K. Sammut (Valletta), P. Fenech (Birkirkara), G. Sciberras (Marsaxlokk), J. Pace (Valletta), S. Bajada (Birkirkara).
Strikers: A. Cohen (Hibernians), M. Mifsud (Qormi), A. Schembri (Ferencvaros).
Farrugia’s squad
Goalkeepers: S. Sultana (Nadur Youngsters), D. Balzan (Hibernians).
Defenders: C. Cassar (Pietà), K. Farrugia (Mosta), O. Bugeja (Floriana), M. Gauci (Hibernians), L. Martinelli (Melita), J. Xerri (Vittoriosa Stars).
Midfielders: M. Scerri (Sliema), R. Muscat (Birkirkara), L. Grech (Vittoriosa), S. Pisani (Hibernians), T. Caruana (Hibs), D. Grima (Balzan), S. Grech (Pietà).
Strikers: J.P. Farrugia (Hibernians), T. Vella (Birkirkara), I. Grech (Pietà).