De Leo names 28-man final squad for Lithuania qualifier and San Marino friendly

Malta coach Emilio De Leo finalised his squad selection for the upcoming international fixtures, which will see the national team face Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier and a friendly against San Marino.

The national team will first travel to Kaunas on Tuesday afternoon for their World Cup Group G qualifying match against Lithuania on Thursday, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm.

Five days later, Malta will return home to the Ta’ Qali National Stadium to host San Marino in a friendly on September 9, with kick-off set at 9pm.

National coach De Leo has decided to keep all 28 players he had named in his provisional squad last week ahead of the team’s trip to the former Soviet Republic.

De Leo is without a string of key players for the Lithuania qualifier as skipper Matthew Guillaumier will be serving a one-match ban, while defender James Carragher and midfielder Teddy Teuma are out injured.

On a more positive note, young defender Kean Scicluna, who is currently on loan at
Żabbar St Patrick from Ħamrun Spartans has earned his first call-up, while Yannick Yankam of Valletta is back in the national team fold after missing the last few international matches.

On a more positive note, Ilyas Chouaref and Jodi Jones return after missing the June matches due to suspension and injury, respectively.

Jake Brimmer, the Australia-based midfielder, and forward Irvin Cardona, who is on the books of French side St Etienne, are in line to make their international debut as they have been retained in the squad.

MALTA SQUAD

Goalkeepers
Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Rashed Al Tumi (Sliema Wanderers FC), James Sissons (Chesterfield FC – ENG).

Defenders
Zach Muscat (Chaves FC – POR), Juan Carlos Corbalan (Marsaxlokk FC), Kurt Shaw (Sorrento FC – ITA), Enrico Pepe (Marsaxlokk FC), Jean Borg (Sliema Wanderers FC), Gabriel Mentz (Gżira United FC), Kean Scicluna (Żabbar St Patrick FC), Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Myles Beerman (Sliema Wanderers FC).

Midfielders                                                                    

Matthew Guillaumier (Panserraikos FC – GRE)*, Brandon Diego Paiber (Valletta FC), Alexander Satariano (Athens Kallithea FC – GRE), Jake Azzopardi (Valletta FC), Jake Grech (Floriana FC), Yannick Yankam (Valletta FC), Jake Brimmer (Auckland FC – AUS), Adam Magri Overend (Sliema Wanderers FC).

Forwards                        
Joseph E. Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Jodi Jones (Notts County FC – ENG), Paul Mbong (FK Čukarički – SRB), Ilyas Chouaref (Sion FC – SUI), Irvin Cardona (AS Saint-Étienne – FRA), Kyrian Nwoko (Sliema Wanderers FC), Keyon Ewurum (Valletta FC), Kemar Reid (Birkirkara FC).

MALTA SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Rashed Al Tumi (Sliema Wanderers FC), James Sissons (Chesterfield FC – ENG).

Defenders: Zach Muscat (Chaves FC – POR), Juan Carlos Corbalan (Marsaxlokk FC), Kurt Shaw (Sorrento FC – ITA), Enrico Pepe (Marsaxlokk FC), Jean Borg (Sliema Wanderers FC), Gabriel Mentz (Gżira United FC), Kean Scicluna (Żabbar St Patrick FC), Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Myles Beerman (Sliema Wanderers FC).

Midfielders: Matthew Guillaumier (Panserraikos FC – GRE)*, Brandon Diego Paiber (Valletta FC), Alexander Satariano (Athens Kallithea FC – GRE), Jake Azzopardi (Valletta FC), Jake Grech (Floriana FC), Yannick Yankam (Valletta FC), Jake Brimmer (Auckland FC – AUS), Adam Magri Overend (Sliema Wanderers FC).

Forwards: Joseph E. Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Jodi Jones (Notts County FC – ENG), Paul Mbong (FK Čukarički – SRB), Ilyas Chouaref (Sion FC – SUI), Irvin Cardona (AS Saint-Étienne – FRA), Kyrian Nwoko (Sliema Wanderers FC), Keyon Ewurum (Valletta FC), Kemar Reid (Birkirkara FC).