Malta coach Ray Farrugia has named a squad of 24 players for the upcoming UEFA Nations League Group D3 matches away to Kosovo on October 11 and Azerbaijan on October 14.

Farrugia has largely kept faith with the players who were part of the squad for the opening UEFA Nations League matches last month where Malta bounced back from a 3-1 away defeat to the Faroe Islands in Torshavn with a 1-1 draw against Azerbaijan at the National Stadium.

Four players have earned a recall with Hibernians midfielder Bjorn Kristensen and Birkirkara duo defender Cain Attard and Jake Grech back in the frame while Floriana’s Clayton Failla is also making a return.

Failla was part of the provisional squad for Malta’s opening UEFA Nations League commitments but missed the trip to the Faroe Islands for family reasons.

Joseph Zerafa is suspended for the Kosovo game but will be available for the second match against Azerbaijan.

Photo: Copyright © Andrew Grima

Andrè Schembri, who plays for Apollon Limassol, is the only foreign-based player in the squad as Pistoiese defender Zach Muscat, who missed the Azerbaijan draw due to injury, is still not 100 per cent fit. Luke Gambin asked not to be considered for selection to concentrate on his commitments with his English League Two club Crawley Town.

Kosovo are leading Group D3 with four points after opening their campaign with a 0-0 draw away to Azerbaijan and a 2-0 home win over Faroe Islands.

Faroe Islands are second on three points following their win over Malta, Azerbaijan have two points and Malta one.

The Malta squad is due to travel to Kosovo on a chartered flight this coming Tuesday.

MALTA SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS
Henry Bonello (Valletta); Andrew Hogg (Hibernians); Steve Sultana (Balzan).

DEFENDERS
Andrei Agius (Hibernians; Ferdinando Apap (Victoria Hotspurs); Cain Attard (Birkirkara); Steve Borg (Valletta); Ryan Camilleri (Valletta); Clayton Failla (Floriana); Michael Johnson (Balzan); Joseph Mbong (Hibernians); Joseph Zerafa (Valletta)*.

MIDFIELDERS
Roderick Briffa (Gżira United); Juan Corbalan (Gżira United); Paul Fenech (Birkirkara); Jake Grech (Birkirkara); Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians); Rowen Muscat (Valletta); Stephen Pisani (Floriana).

FORWARDS
Andrew Cohen (Gżira United); Alfred Effiong (Balzan); Jean Paul Farrugia (Sliema Wanderers); Michael Mifsud (Birkirkara); Andrè Schembri (Apollon Limassol, Cyprus).