National coach Pietro Ghedin named an eighteen-man squad ahead of next Friday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski in Sofia, kick-off at 17:00 CET.

Jacob Borg, Joseph Zerafa, Shaun Bajada and Terence Vella who were in squad in last month’s friendly match against Northern Ireland were not included. On the other hand, Ryan Fenech, Daniel Bogdanovic and Andrew Cohen are back after missing the last World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic in Plzen.

The players selected by Ghedin are:
goalkeepers Justin Haber (Birkirkara), Andrew Hogg (Enosis Neon Paralimini);
defenders Andrei Agius (Latina – ITA), Ryan Camilleri (Hibs), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Luke Dimech (Valletta), Clayton Failla (Hibs), Alex Muscat (Sliema);
midfielders Roderick Briffa (Valletta), Paul Fenech (Birkirkara), Ryan Fenech (Valletta), Edward Herrera (Birkirkara), Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara);
forwards Danijel Bogdanovic (Valletta), Andrew Cohen (Hibs), Michael Mifsud (Valletta), Andre Schembri (Omonia Nicosia).

After the Bulgaria game, Malta will host Italy in another World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.