Valletta midfielder Kevin Sammut has been ruled out of Malta’s opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Israel after picking up an injury in Friday’s friendly match against Ħamrun Spartans at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
Malta coach John Buttigieg left it until late yesterday evening to name his 18-man squad ahead of the contingent’s departure to Israel this afternoon.
Sammut reported for training with the national squad yesterday morning but pulled up midway through the session after feeling a twinge in his hamstring.
Massimo Grima, who this summer joined Ħamrun Spartans after a two-year loan spell with Qormi, also sustained a slight injury in Friday’s Mare Blu Cup, won by Valletta 2-1. The Ħamrun midfielder was unable to finish yesterday’s practice session but, after receiving treatment on his injured ankle, Grima was given the medical go-ahead to travel with the squad to Tel Aviv.
Birkirkara’s Trevor Cilia is a surprise omission from Buttigieg’s squad for Thursday’s qualifier.
Cilia, second to Birkirkara team-mate Shaun Bajada in last season’s Malta FA Footballer of the Year contest, missed the national squad’s training camp in Italy as he was still recovering from a fractured wrist. But, the speedy winger played a full part in the BOV Super Cup final extra-time defeat to Valletta the weekend before last.
Sliema Wanderers’ midfielder-cum-forward Ivan Woods has also failed to make the cut along with Tarxien Rainbows goalkeeper Anthony Curmi. Birkirkara left-back Joseph Zerafa has declared himself unavailable for Thursday’s qualifier as he has an exam on Wednesday.
The inclusion of Gareth Sciberras and Carlo Mamo in Buttigieg’s 18-strong selection increases their chances of playing a part in Thursday’s qualifier less than two months after the Marsaxlokk duo earned a recall to the national squad following a lengthy absence.
Sciberras and Mamo gave a good account of themselves in the friendly match against Macedonia earlier this month.
Striker Michael Mifsud, scorer of Malta’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Macedonia, has again received a vote of confidence from Buttigieg despite still being without a club.
The three foreign-based players in Buttigieg’s squad, namely Sheffield United forward Daniel Bogdanovic, defender Andrei Agius, who has rejoined Italian Serie C2 club AS Melfi, and flank defender Manny Muscat, of A-League side Wellington Phoenix, are expected to join up with their international team-mates today.
Bogdanovic, who didn’t feature in Sheffield United’s 1-0 win over Preston on Saturday, and Muscat were expected to arrive yesterday while Agius is due to fly to Malta this morning.
Malta Squad
Goalkeepers: A. Hogg (Valletta), M. Muscat (Hibernians).
Defenders: A. Agius (AS Melfi), J. Caruana (Valletta), C. Failla (Sliema Wanderers), E. Herrera (Hibs), C. Mamo (Marsa-xlokk), M. Muscat (Wellington Phoenix).
Midfielders: S. Bajada (Birkirkara), R. Briffa (Valletta), P. Fenech (Birkirkara), M. Grima (Ħamrun Spartans), R. Fenech (Ħamrun Spartans), J. Pace (Valletta), G. Sciberras (Marsaxlokk).
Forwards: D. Bogdanovic (Sheffield United), A. Cohen (Hibs), M. Mifsud (no club).