Daniel Bogdanovic has been left out of Malta’s squad for tomorrow’s Euro 2012 Group F qualifier against Croatia at the National Stadium (kick-off 7 p.m.).
The 31-year-old striker flew to Malta on Monday to link up with his international team-mates but was back in England 24 hours later for talks over a transfer to Blackpool from Sheffield United.
Negotiations were concluded late in the evening with Bogdanovic signing a two-year deal.
Bogdanovic’s absence prompted national coach John Buttigieg to drop him from the squad but the much-travelled striker is now expected to be drafted back into the group for the home qualifier against Georgia next Tuesday.
Another Malta player who changed clubs yesterday is Andrei Agius but unlike Bogdanovic, the 25-year-old didn’t have to pull out of Malta’s qualifiers to complete his transfer as he had authorised his agent to finalise the deal.
Agius has agreed a one-year contract with Serie C1 club Latina after the latter agreed a players-plus-cash deal with AS Melfi for the Malta international.
Maltese champions Valletta and Birkirkara, with whom Agius had a short loan spell in the second half of last season, were also in the race to sign the highly-rated defender but Agius chose to continue his career abroad.
Meanwhile, Buttigieg and his assistant Carmel Busuttil yesterday named a 20-man squad for the Croatia game but the list will be whittled down to 18 on matchday.
Apart from Bogdanovic, Justin Haber and Shaun Bajada are the two other notable absentees.
Goalkeeper Haber has been ruled out of the upcoming qualifiers after picking up a calf injury while training for his Greek club Kerkyra last month.
Birkirkara midfielder Bajada is recovering from ankle surgery.
Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Reuben Gauci will provide cover for Andrew Hogg, of Valletta, who is all but certain of keeping the no.1 jersey.
Maltese-Australian players John Hutchinson, currently on loan with Chinese club Chengdu Blades, and Manny Muscat, of A-League club Wellington Phoenix, have been recalled.
Captain Michael Mifsud, who scored Malta’s goals in the 2-1 victory over the Central African Republic, appears to be winning the race to recover from the hamstring injury that kept him out of Valletta’s opening two Premier League games after being included in Buttigieg’s squad.
Valletta defender Steve Borg will have high hopes of earning his first senior call-up after being named in the provisional selection.
Tomorrow’s game will be Malta’s seventh in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
Malta will be looking to pick up their first point after six straight defeats but they have a mountain to climb as Croatia are regarded as favourites to win and keep up their challenge for top spot.
Malta squad
Keepers: R. Gauci (Marsaxlokk), A. Hogg (Valletta).
Defenders: A. Agius (Latina), S. Borg (Valletta), R. Briffa (Valletta), J. Caruana (Valletta), C. Failla (Hibs), C. Mamo (Marsaxlokk), J. Zerafa (Birkirkara).
Midfielders: T. Cilia (Birkirkara), P. Fenech (Birkirkara), R. Fenech (Valletta), John Hutchinson (Chengdu Blades), Manny Muscat (Wellington Phoenix), Jamie Pace (Valletta), Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara).
Forwards: Andrew Cohen (Hibs), Michael Mifsud (Valletta), Andrè Schembri (Olympiacos Volos), Ivan Woods (Floriana).