England, France-born players feature in Malta women provisional squad for Nations League

Malta women’s coach Manuela Tesse has called up two new faces to the senior national team as they gear up their preparations for their UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign in group C2.

They launch their quest for another League B promotion on February 21 with an away trip at Cyprus before hosting Andorra, whom they already played two editions ago, on February 25.

The Italian coach named a provisional squad of 27 players which includes England-born Fiona Buttigieg and Oceane Grange, a French native.

Buttigieg, whose husband is Maltese, is typically a fullback but can cover the winger role too. She is on the books of Luton Town, featuring in the fifth-tier of England.

On the other hand, Grange, who obtained Maltese citizenship through her grandparents, plays for RC Roubaix Wervicq Féminin in the third level of French football. She plays as a defender and was part of her side’s French Cup tie against top-tier side Paris FC, last month.

In addition, Tesse has called up young midfielder Jana Barbara. She plays for Schalke 04 in the regional leagues of Germany and has already represented Malta at youth level.

Experienced goalkeeper Janice Xuereb makes her return to the national team after a 10-month stop due to a serious knee injury. She was between the sticks for Birkirkara in their last two league matches against Hibernians and Swieqi United.

Moreover, Mġarr United midfielder Amber Grech has returned to the national team having been part of the senior setup in the past. Grech’s last appearance, her 10th, was in 2019 when Malta drew 2-2 with Lithuania in the Aphrodite Cup, played in Cyprus.

Genoa midfielder Rachel Cuschieri is also part of the team having returned from a short absence due to an injury. The former Lazio and Sampdoria scored for Genoa in last weekend’s victory over Pavia in the Serie B Femminile.

The national team will be missing key players in Birkirkara captain Stephania Farrugia and Mġarr duo Brenda Borg and Veronique Mifsud who are all recovering from knee injuries.

Malta face Georgia as well in their League C group.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS
Patricia Ebejer (Mġarr United), Janice Xuereb (Birkirkara), Maya Cachia (Birkirkara).

DEFENDERS
Rebecca Bajada (Mġarr United), Fiona Buttigieg (Luton Town Ladies, England), Jessica Dimech (Hibernians), Tammy Falzon (Swieqi United), Oceane Grange (RC Roubaix Wervicq Féminin, France), Emma Lipman (Genoa, Italy), Maya Lucia (AP Orlens Gdansk, Poland), Valentina Rapa (Birkirkara), Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United), Charlene Zammit (Birkirkara).

MIDFIELDERS
Jana Barbara (Schalke 04, Germany), Yulya Carella (Mġarr United), Rachel Cuschieri (Genoa, Italy), Alexandra Gatt (Durham Cestria, England), Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians), Gabriella Zahra (Birkirkara), Shona Zammit (Swieqi United).

FORWARDS
Haley Bugeja (Inter, Italy), Alishia Cassar (Birkirkara), Lexine Farrugia (Roma, Italy), Maria Farrugia (Sheffield United, England), Jade Flask (Swieqi United), Amber Grech (Mġarr United), Kailey Willis (Venezia, Italy).