Malta step up preparations for Kosovo and Azerbaijan matches

With the UEFA Nations League match away to Kosovo on Thursday fast approaching, the Malta squad are stepping up their preparations for their third commitment in Group D3.  The majority of the 24 players called up by coach Ray Farrugia for Thursday’s difficult test at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina and the subsequent match against Azerbaijan in Baku, reported for training on Sunday morning. Forward Andrè Schembri, who started Apollon Limassol’s 2-0 win at Omonia Nicosia on Sunday, and defender Ferdinando Apap, who played in Victoria Hotspurs’ 3-1 win over Għarb Rangers in Gozo FA League match also on Sunday, joined their international team-mates before training this evening (Monday). All the players came through their club commitments last weekend with no injuries, meaning that Farrugia and his technical staff, namely senior assistant coach Branko Nisevic, assistant coach Ronald Vella, goalkeepers’ coach Charles Sciberras and Luca Pagani, the physical trainer, were able to confirm the squad named last week for this week’s UEFA Nations League games. Farrugia is taking 24 players for the double-header against Kosovo and Azerbaijan as left-back Joseph Zerafa is suspended for the first match on Thursday after collecting two yellow cards in the first two UEFA Nations League games against Faroe Islands (1-3) and Azerbaijan (1-1). The Valletta player will be available for Sunday's match against Azerbaijan. The Malta contingent is due to travel to Pristina on a chartered flight on Tuesday evening.MALTA SQUADGOALKEEPERSHenry Bonello (Valletta); Andrew Hogg (Hibernians); Steve Sultana (Balzan). DEFENDERSFerdinando Apap (Victoria Hotspurs); Cain Attard (Birkirkara); Andrei Agius (Hibernians); Steve Borg (Valletta); Ryan Camilleri (Valletta); Clayton Failla (Floriana); Michael Johnson (Balzan); Joseph Mbong (Hibernians); Joseph Zerafa (Valletta). MIDFIELDERSRoderick Briffa (Gżira United); Juan Corbalan (Gżira United); Paul Fenech (Birkirkara); Jake Grech (Birkirkara); Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians); Rowen Muscat (Valletta); Stephen Pisani (Floriana). FORWARDSAndrew Cohen (Gżira United); Alfred Effiong (Balzan); Jean Paul Farrugia (Sliema Wanderers); Michael Mifsud (Birkirkara); Andrè Schembri (Apollon Limassol, Cyprus).