Pietro Ghedin, Silvio Vella name provisional squads
National coaches Pietro Ghedin and Silvio Vella have named provisional squads for next week’s international commitments.
Ghedin’s national team will be facing England at Wembley on 8 October and plays Lithuania away on 11 October.
Vella’s Under 21 side is to play against Latvia on 7 October and then faces Moldova on 11 October with both matches being played at the Hibernians Stadium, starting at 6pm.
Ghedin’s 25-man squad does not include Luke Gambin of Barnet who is suspended for two matches after being dismissed during the Malta-Scotland match last month at Ta’ Qali.
Jonathan Caruana, of Valletta, is however included in the squad. In fact, he is only suspended for today week’s clash against England at Wembley, but is available to play against Lithuania. He was suspended for one match only.
Also missing from the squad is Valletta’s veteran midfielder Roderick Briffa. He is ruled out through injury.
The squad also includes Balzan’s Lydon Micallef, Jurgen Pisani and Steve Pisani of Floriana and Mark Scerri of Sliema. Ghedin’s squad is the following: Goalkeepers: Justin Haber (Floriana), Andrew Hogg (Hibernians), Henry Bonello (Valletta).
Defenders: Steve Borg, Valletta), Andrei Agius (Hibernians), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Zach Muscat (Arezzo, Italy), Alex Muscat (Sliema W.), Ryan Camilleri (Valletta), Jurgen Pisani (Floriana), Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara), Clayton Failla (Hibernians) and Justin Grioli (Balzan).
Midfielders: Paul Fenech (Balzan), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians), Mark Scerri (Sliema W.), Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara), Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara), Steve Pisani (Floriana).
Strikers: Michael Mifsud (Valletta), Jean Paul Farrugia (Sliema W.), Alfred Effiong (Balzan), Andre Schembri (Boavista, Portugal), Lydon Micallef (Balzan).
Vella’s 23-man squad is the following:
Goalkeepers: Matthew Calleja Cremona (Pembroke), Yenz Cini (Mosta), Jurgen Borg (Gzira U.).
Defenders: Samir Arab (Balzan), Cain Attard (Birkirkara), Jean Borg (Valletta), Michael Johnson (St Andrews), Samuel Magri (Dover Ath, England), Karl Micallef (Pieta H.), Daniel Zerafa (Tarxien R.).
Midfielders: Myles Beerman (Rangers FC, Scotland), Johann Bezzina (Hibernians), James Brincat (Birkirkara), Ryan Camenzuli (Floriana), Llewelyn Cremona (Valletta), Jake Grech (Hamrun S.), Matthew Guillaumier (Birkirkara), Brandon Muscat (Pembroke).
Strikers: Siraj Arab (Pembroke), Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians), Joseph Mbong (Hibernians), Luke Montebello (Pembroke) and Kurt Zammit (Tarxien R.).