Valletta will play their first friendly match of the new season this evening when they take on Premier League newcomers Balzan Youths at the Tedesco Stadium (kick-off 6 p.m.).
The occasion will mark the debuts of Atanas Marinov and Jimmy Briffa as coaches of Valletta and Balzan respectively.
Marinov joined the Citizens after two years with Hamrun Spartans while Briffa was at the helm of Division Two side Zurrieq last season.
With Valletta's home leg of their UEFA Cup qualifying round tie against Neuchatel Xamax of Switzerland only 26 days away, Marinov is expected to use today's match to run the rule over the younger members in his squad.
The defections of David Carabott and Nigerian Chris Oretan, now on the transfer list, mean that the Bulgarian mentor must dig deep into his limited resources to find suitable replacements.
Valletta have been unable to strengthen their squad due to a transfer ban imposed on the club by the MFA but they have some players returning from loan spells, the likes of Sharlon Pace, Jerryton Agius and Jeremy Agius. Other youngsters who have been training with the senior squad in the pre-season include Antoine Sacco, Kurt Zammit, Ian Zammit and Dino Trasokopolous.
Former Malta midfielder Ivan Zammit has resumed training with the Citizens but is ineligible to take part in today's warm-up as his six-month suspension ends on August 4.
Zammit, 31, was slapped with his hefty ban in February after being involved in an incident with a match official while on duty as manager of Valletta's youth team.
Gilbert Agius is also a doubtful starter due to an achilles problem while Daniel Theuma is in the final stages of his rehabilitation from a groin injury. Darren Debono will also miss the match.
The Citizens are hopeful of lifting the transfer ban in the coming days to step up their interest in a number of targets. Kurt Farrugia, the Pietà defender who turned out for Marsaxlokk last season, is attracting interest but no deal has been agreed yet.
The Hotspurs are keen on 23-year-old Pace and unless an exchange deal can be tied up with the Citizens, Pietà are unlikely to authorise U-21 defender Farrugia's move to Valletta.
Two new Bulgarian players are expected to start a trial with Valletta soon. Milen Penchev is the only foreigner to have signed a new deal with Valletta.
On Friday, a three-man delegation from Valletta, consisting of coach Marinov and club officials David Xuereb and Anton Abela, will fly out to Switzerland to watch Neuchatel's league match away to Basel the following day.
Neuchatel made an excellent start to their league campaign in midweek after beating champions Grasshoppers 1-0 away.
On his part, Balzan's coach Briffa is expected to parade his club's new signings and other trialists in today's friendly. Jaroslav Marx, the former Birkirkara midfielder, is Balzan's most significant signing so far. Bulgarian Stojan Simeonov, who played for Rabat Ajax a few seasons ago, has also signed for the Premier League new boys.
Tom Maric, a 25-year-old Australian defender, is at present undergoing a trial with Balzan. Also vying for the last foreigner's vacancy at Balzan are a Nigerian youngster and one from Congo.
Mbong renews Hibs contract
Essien Mbong has renewed his contract with Hibs for another three years. The Nigerian midfielder and his FIFA-licensed agent Henry Ekezie had been in talks with the club for the last few weeks over the renewal of his contract which expired at the end of the season.
Contacted yesterday, Ekezie confirmed that 27-year-old Mbong had put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with Hibernians.
Ekezie is also confident that negotiations with Hibs on 18-year-old Nigerian forward Udo Chukwu Nwoko will be finalised soon. Nwoko has been offered a contract by Hibs, the club he joined a few years back. According to FIFA rules, players must sign a professional contract when they are 18.
Hibs' decision to sign Nwoko as one of their three foreigners signals the end of Branko Nisevic's spell with the Paolites.