Silvio Vella selects provisional Under-21 squad

Malta Under-21 coach Silvio Vella has named a provisional squad of 22 players for the 2019 UEFA Under-21 Championship Group Six home qualifier against Belgium on September 7.

Strikers Kyrian Nwoko and Jurgen Degabriele, of Valletta and Hibernians respectively, and winger Myles Beerman, who is set to join Birkirkara on loan from Glasgow Rangers, are back with the Under-21s after being part of the senior squad for the end-of-season training camp in Austria earlier this year.

Most of the players in Vella’s initial selection turn out for BOV Premier League clubs but there is also space for Neil Tabone, the Żejtun Corinthians midfielder, and Christian Mercieca, who plays for Gozitan champions Victoria Hotspurs.

Birkirkara midfielder Matthew Guillaumier, who has recovered from a long-term injury, has also been named in the provisional Malta Under-21 squad.

Belgium are sharing top spot in Group 6 with Sweden on 17 points while Malta are still looking for their first points in this U21 qualifying competition.

The match against Belgium, at the Centenary Stadium, will be followed by another two home matches as Malta wrap up their group commitments against Hungary (12th October) and Cyprus (16th October).

As part of their preparations for their final two qualifiers in October, the Malta Under-21s will play a home friendly match against Georgia on September 11.

Malta squad: Goalkeepers

Jake Galea (Sliema Wanderers); Matthew Grech (Floriana); Andreas Vella (Mosta).

Defenders

Jean Borg (Valletta); Kurt Shaw (Sliema Wanderers); Karl Micallef (Ħamrun Spartans); Nicholas Pulis (Valletta); Kurt Zammit (Birkirkara); Michele Sansone (Sliema Wanderers).

Midfielders

David Xuereb (Hibernians); Myles Beerman (Birkirkara on loan from Glasgow Rangers); Matthew Guillaumier (Birkirkara); Nikolai Muscat (Gżira United); Yannick Yankam (Qormi); Zachary Scerri (Gżira United); Neil Tabone (Żejtun Corinthians); Dylan Agius (Pietà Hotspurs).

Forwards

Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians); Zachary Brincat (Mosta); Jan Busuttil (Pietà Hotspurs); Kyrian Nwoko (Valletta); Christian Mercieca (Victoria Hotspurs).