The Malta Under-19 team are gearing up for a series of commitments as part of their build-up for their participation in the qualifying round of the 2019/2020 UEFA Under-19 Championship later this year.

This coming Friday, the Malta Under-19 side, led by coach Winston Muscat, face the Austria Under-17 team in a friendly match at the MFA Training Grounds, kicking off at 16.00.

Two days later, the Malta U-19s depart for Rome to take part in the annual Caput Mundi Tournament which gets under way on Monday. Their opponents in Group B are Kosovo, the England Schools Team and the Lazio Regional Selection.

The Malta U-19 team gave a very good account of themselves in the last UEFA Under-19 qualifying round tournament, played in November at the Centenary Stadium.

Playing in Group 6, the Maltese team gained four points after holding Belgium to a 1-1 draw and beating Lithuana 2-1 in their final match. In their opening game, Malta suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to group winners France.

Muscat is now preparing his team for another difficult tournament as, in November, the Malta Under-19 team will meet hosts Italy, Slovakia and Cyprus in Group 6.

Friday’s friendly match is against the Austria Under-17 team who have advanced to the Elite Round of the 2018/19 UEFA U-17 Championship.

Last month, the Malta Under-19s played two warm-up games against a youth and reserves selection of Scottish club St Mirren. After losing the first match 3-1, the Maltese youngsters held St Mirren to a 1-1 draw in the second meeting.

MALTA U-19 PROVISIONAL SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS
Amara Sylla (Birkirkara); Ryan Vella (Hibernians); Matthias Debono (Ħamrun Spartans); Dylan Ciappara (Mosta).

DEFENDERS
Sheldon Mizzi (Pietà Hotspurs); Liam McKay (Pietà Hotspurs); Andreas Vella (Hibernians); Ismael Borg (Lija Athletic); Glenn Attard (Birkirkara); Shaun Dimech (Valletta); Christian Gauci (San Ġwann); Isaac Galea (Floriana).

MIDFIELDERS
Jean Paul Attard (San Ġwann); Bradley Sciberras (Floriana); Jake Ghio (Pietà Hotspurs); Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Birkirkara); Jamie Sixsmith (St Andrews); Matthew Portelli (Hibernians); Karl Mohnani (Melita).

FORWARDS
Russell Vella (Ħamrun Spartans); Alex Satariano (St Andrews); Ryan Tonna (Valletta); Paul Mbong (Birkirkara); Clyde Bouvet (Pietà Hotspurs); Sebastian Grech (Birkirkara); Jake Engerer (Cesena, Italy); Jordan Kelly (St Andrews).