Injured Montebello out of Malta’s friendly against the Czech Republic

Zammit Lonardelli, Yankam also unfit to travel for friendlies

Malta coach Michele Marcolini will be without prolific striker Luke Montebello when the national team faces the Czech Republic in a friendly at the Stadion Grodig, in Austria on Friday.

Striker Luke Montebello, this season’s Premier League top scorer, failed to make the trip to Austria as he is recovering from injury.

Montebello picked up a knock in Ħamrun Spartans’ 5-0 win over Floriana in the penultimate match from the Premier League.

The towering forward joined the national team at the start of the training camp last month but it was decided that the player would return to his club to recover full fitness.

Montebello is now expected to continue his rehabilitation at his club and will be part of Alessandro Zinnari’s squad that is undergoing pre-season preparations ahead of their participation in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.

During Thursday’s press conference coach Michele Marcolini said that Carlo Zammit Lonardelli and Yannick Yankam were also ruled out of the friendly double header due to injury and are currently recovering with their respective clubs.

Montebello’s withdrawal and the decision to leave out striker Jodi Jones for this month’s friendlies are likely to open up opportunities for other fringe players in their squad to push their claim for a starting berth in next September’s UEFA Nations League campaign.

Malta will be up against Moldova and Andorra as they will bid for a historic promotion to League C.