Five new faces in Davide Mazzotta’s Malta U-21 squad for Euro qualifiers

Malta Under-21 national team  oach Davide Mazzotta has announced a 31-player provisional squad for the upcoming UEFA Euro U21 Qualifiers away to Greece and Georgia.

The team will continue its UEFA Euro U21 Qualifying campaign with two testing fixtures abroad.

Malta will first be travelling to Greece for their sixth game of the campaign, facing the team currently at the top of Group F.

The match will take place on Friday, March 27, with kick-off at the Municipal Stadium of Livadia, Greece, at 5pm.

Afterwards, the Malta U21 National Team will be heading to Georgia for another away clash.

The match will be held on Tuesday March 31, kicking off at 4pm at the Ramaz Shengelia Stadium in Kutaisi, Greece.

While Malta have had a difficult start to Group F, the upcoming international window presents Mazzotta’s side with an opportunity to seek further improvement and to prove themselves against top opposition.

The team has a couple of new faces, including Nikita Shchepetkin, who plays for Italy’s US Livorno, along with Sliema Wanderers’ Fabian Lauri and Nicholas Strickland, Gzira United’s Dejan Farrugia, and Birkirkara’s Kaiden Fenech.

THE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Liam Frendo (Valletta FC), Fabian Lauri (Sliema Wanderers FC), Hugo Sacco (Hibernians FC), Karl Sargent (Gzira United).

Defenders: Deacon Abela (Gzira United), Miguel Azzopardi (Birzebbuga St Peter’s FC), Nathan Cross (Birkirkara FC), Mattias Ellul (Valletta FC), Ivin Farrugia (Mgarr United), Benjamin Hili (Swieqi United), Nikita Shchepetkin (US Livorno – ITA), Kean Scicluna (Zabbar St Patrick FC), Jake Vassallo (Mosta FC), Tristan Viviani (San Diego State – USA), Sven Xerri (Hamrun Spartans FC).

Midfielders: Andrew Borg (Gzira United), Brooklyn Borg (Gzira United), Bjorn Buhagiar (Gzira United), Lucas Caruana (Hibernians FC), Dejan Farrugia (Gzira United), Jake Grech (Balzan FC), Daniel Letherby (Naxxar Lions FC), Jake Micallef (Zabbar St Patrick FC), Kaiden Fenech (Birkirkara FC).

Forwards: Nicholas Agius (Zabbar St Patrick FC), Zak Barbara (Swieqi United), Kai Bartolo (Wealdstone FC – ENG), Sean Gatt (Santa Lucia FC), Nicholas Strickland (Sliema Wanderers FC), Joshua Pitts (Ipswich Town FC – ENG), Gabriel Vella (Kercem Ajax FC).