Barbara gets Heese's nod for striker's role

Etienne Barbara has been deployed in a variety of positions during his career but his two-goal contribution in Malta's 5-2 victory over Estonia on Monday seems to have convinced Horst Heese that his best role is in attack.

Barbara was generally regarded as a defender or shielding midfielder by most of the coaches he had at club and national level but he has always insisted that a roaming position up front suits him best.

His goalscoring feats for Marsaxlokk this season added weight to his assertion as the 21-year-old Barbara is the league's leading marksman with 14 goals.

"Etienne has played in all positions... goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker," Heese said when asked for his opinion on Barbara's best position.

"I think the coaches who worked with him at some stage in his career did not exactly know his best position. I didn't know which position would bring the best out of this player. He scored two goals against Estonia but he must keep his feet on the ground.

"Barbara wants to learn and improve and on the back of his recent performances, Carmel and I have agreed that striker is his best position.

"Busuttil knows what it takes to be a really dangerous striker because he was one of the best during his time. I am sure that with his guidance and help, Barbara will develop into a better striker because he's got great potential."