National coach Pietro Ghedin and Malta Under-21 coach Ray ‘Zazu’ Farrugia named the final squads for the trips to Yerevan and Krakow respectively as the senior side takes on Armenia in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday and the Under-21 side faces Poland in a UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier on Thursday.
Andrei Agius is the only player to be left out as his Italian club US Latina reached the final of the Lega Pro Prima Divisione play-offs against Pisa which would lead to promotion to the Serie B. Sliema Wanderers goalkeeper Glenn Zammit is the new face in the squad along with Justin Grioli and Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
Meanwhile also missing from the Malta squad, apart from Andrei Agius, are Andrew Hogg and Ryan Fenech.
The players are:
goalkeepers Justin Haber (Birkirkara), Glenn Zammit (Sliema), Mario Muscat (Hibs);
defenders Jacob Borg (Balzan), Alex Muscat (Sliema), Clayton Failla (Hibs), Luke Dimech (Valletta), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Justin Grioli (Tarxien), Clifford Gatt Baldacchino (Sliema), Ryan Camilleri (Hibs);
midfielders Roderick Briffa (Valletta), Edward Herrera (Birkirkara), Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara), Paul Fenech (Birkirkara), Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), Shaun Bajada (Sliema);
forwards Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Birkirkara), Michael Mifsud (Valletta), Andrew Cohen (Hibs), Terence Vella (Hamrun), Andre Schembri (Omonia Nicosia).
Ray Farrugia named an-eighteen man squad for the first qualifier against Poland.
The players are:
goalkeepers Jurgen Borg (Zejtun), Yenz Cini (Valletta);
defenders Sacha Borg (Floriana), Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara), Jayke Cuschieri (Brisbane), Louis John Cutajar (Norwich United), Christian Grech (Pietà), Zach Muscat (Birkirkara), Jurgen Pisani (Pietà), Matthew Tabone (Vittoriosa);
midfielders Terence Agius (Pietà), Clyde Borg (Floriana), Brooke Farrugia (Floriana), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians), Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara);
forwards Jean Paul Farrugia (Hibernians), Lydon Micallef (Vittoriosa), Stephen Pisani (Floriana).
Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar