Cannavo makes the cut as coach De Leo finalises Malta squad for Slovakia, Azerbaijan qualifiers

Malta are due to face Slovakia in the first warm-up at the DAC Arena in Dunajska Streda on Monday, with kick-off set at 6pm.

Then Emilio De Leo’s men will head to Hungary where they will be up against Azerbaijan at the Haladás Sportkomplexum in Szombathely, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm.

Cannavo is the latest addition to the national team squad, and he seems to have left a good impression on coach De Leo, who is keen to see him in action during next week’s friendlies.

The 26-year-old is on the books of Venezia but spent last season on loan with Cosenza where he made 36 appearances and scored four goals.

In his latest selection, De Leo has kept faith with the majority of the players, who featured in the World Cup qualifiers and last March UEFA Nations League play-off defeat to Luxembourg.

From the original 34-man list, the Italian coach opted to leave out goalkeeper Matthias Debono, defender Jake Vassallo and Adam Magri Overend, midfielder Matias Garcia and forwards Luke Borg, Nevin Portelli and Nicholas Agius.

These matches are being seen as the perfect preparation for the upcoming commitments in the UEFA Nations League that will get under way in September.

Malta are clear favourites to win their first-ever promotion when they will be up against Gibraltar and Andorra.

FINAL SQUAD

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

Defenders
Zach Muscat (Chaves FC), Juan Carlos Corbalan (Marsaxlokk), Kurt Shaw (Hibernians), Enrico Pepe (Marsaxlokk), Jean Borg (Sliema Wanderers FC), Kean Scicluna (Żabbar St Patrick), Gabriel Mentz (Gżira United), Aleandro Garzia (Birkirkara), Myles Beerman (Floriana), Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana).

Midfielders                                                                   
Matthew Guillaumier (Ħamrun Spartans), Brandon Diego Paiber (Valletta FC), Alexander Satariano (Athens Kallithea FC), Jake Azzopardi (Valletta), Teddy Teuma (Standard Liege).

Forwards                       
Joseph Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans FC), Paul Mbong (Floriana), Ilyas Chouaref (Sion), Jake Grech (Floriana), Irvin Cardona (AS Saint-Étienne – FRA), Basil Tuma (Reading FC – ENG), Kevin Cannavò (Cosenza), Keyon Ewurum (Torino FC), Andrea Zammit (Valletta).