Four debutants this evening for Malta Under-21 team

Malta Under-21 coach Silvio Vella has announced his starting formation for the first Albania friendly on Friday evening at the Niko Dovana Stadium in Durres.  Four players will be making their Under-21 debut in this new look young squad while the others who will start on the bench will also possibly be given the opportunity to make their first appearance at this level during Friday evening's friendly. Mosta's Andreas Vella will defend Malta’s goal, on the flanks defensively Michele Sansone will be vying to continue his impressive Malta U-21 displays of late, on the other flank it’s a first Malta Under-21 outing for Hibernians’ Connor Zammit. At the heart of defence there will be Valletta duo of Jean Borg, who is the new vice-captain of the Malta U-21 team, and another debutant, Nicholas Pulis. New captain Matthew Guillaumier has an important role as a holding midfielder behind other newcomers and debutants in the middle, Ħamrun’s Bradley Schembri and Jamie Zerafa, the latter currently playing in Serbia with FK Indjija. The advanced flank positions will be taken up by Myles Beerman, currently playing on loan with Birkirkara from Rangers, and Jan Busuttil who has been rewarded for his fine displays so far this season with Pieta’ Hotspurs. Up front, Mosta forward Zachary Brincat, who has also had some encouraging displays in the domestic competitions this season.  For Busuttil and Brincat, this will be their first start for this Malta Under-21 team. On matchday coach, Silvio Vella urged his players for concentration and passion. “Lately my players have been training relentlessly, it’s a new team, the result is important but gaining experience at this level is the most important thing at this stage," Vella said. “We are playing a very tough opponent who recently only lost in injury time against a very powerful Italy side. “Albania are in pot four, there is a possibility that we could have them in our group as we have the draws for the new competition. They have some dangerous and fast players, and can easily be compared to Georgia and Hungary who we faced at home recently. “For tonight I just hope the level of concentration in my players remains high, we avoid stupid mistakes, and no matter what , we maintain our tactical discipline throughout the whole ninety minutes.” After Friday’s friendly, the Malta Under-21 team moves to another Albanian city, Shkodër, for the second friendly against Albania on Monday at the Loro Boriçi Stadium. Malta Under-21 Starting XI:- 1) Andreas Vella, 16) Michele Sansone, 3) Connor Zammit, 4) Nicholas Pulis, 2) Jean Borg, 6) Matthew Guillaumier, 8) Jamie Zerafa, 18) Bradley Schembri, 11) Myles Beerman, 10) Jan Busuttil, 9) Zachary Brincat. Substitutes: Timmy Aquilina, Kurt Shaw, Zach Cassar, Zachary Grech, Andrea Borg, Joseph Mario Vella, David Xuereb, Aidan Friggieri, Jan Tanti.