A tough international week awaits the Malta U-21 Team hosting Denmark on Friday before an away trip to Romania on Tuesday next week.
A considerable amount of injuries together with other absentees makes it very difficult for the team led by coach Silvio Vella to face these strong opponents as both Denmark and Romania are challenging for the strongly desired top position in this UEFA European U-21 Championship Qualifying Group 8.
Captain Jean Borg and vice captain Michele Sansone are the two main absentees, also on the sidelines forward players Zachary Brincat and Andrei Spiteri who both play for Mosta, the latter leaving his mark from the bench in his official debut last month against Northern Ireland followed with another fine performance against Romania.
Carlo Zammit Lonardelli, Nick Pulis and Dejan Debono are also absent from Friday’s daunting task with Denmark, while Kurt Shaw, Matthew Guillaumier, Myles Beerman, Shaun Dimech and Paul Mbong who are still eligible to play for the U-21 Team have been selected to the final senior squad for the upcoming away UEFA Nations League matches.
Coach Silvio Vella said, “It’s a very tough situation heading to these matches with key players missing, but as we always insisted the prime objective of this U-21 Team is to prepare and pursue development of young players at this level.
“I have full faith in this youthful group, they will surely leave no stone unturned chasing their first appearance and to perform well, hence emulate others who have until recently and in this same competition performed well at this U-21 level, now embracing their opportunity to represent their country at the highest standard”.
The two matches against Denmark (tomorrow) and Romania (next week) could be the perfect opportunity for several newcomers who have been given their first taste to join this Malta U-21 squad, thus rewarded for their rapid development, all striving to make their mark and to cement a regular spot representing their country at this level.
The Denmark home match lead up to the Romania away trip in Giurgiu on Tuesday next week, both matches kicking off at 6pm Malta time.
Squad
Goalkeepers – Rashed Al-Tumi, Timmy Aquilina, Andreas Vella.
Defenders – Jean Paul Attard, Darren Borg, Gary Camilleri, Matthew Ellul, Sebastian Grech, Zachary Grech, Marcus Grima, Liam McKay, Alexander Satariano, Owen Spiteri.
Midfielders – Ayrton Attard, Christian Gauci, Bradley Sciberras, James Scicluna, Matthew Spiteri, David Xuereb, Andrea Zammit, Jamie Zerafa.
Forwards – Jan Busuttil, Calvin Camilleri.
