Malta's U-21 squad yesterday departed for Slovenia ahead of tomorrow's UEFA U-21 Group Eight qualifier in Nova Gorica.
Coach Edwin Camilleri named his final 18-man squad after the U-21 players had their final training session at Ta' Qali yesterday morning before flying out to Slovenia.
Tarxien Rainbows forward Warren Chircop is suspended for the Slovenia qualifier while John Mintoff and Steve Bonnici are sidelined with injuries.
Malta are still without a point after losing their opening four Group Eight qualifiers. In their first match last March, Camilleri's team lost 2-0 to Slovenia despite producing a spirited display at the Hibs Ground.
In their last outing, Malta went down 2-0 to France at the National Stadium.
Malta U-21 squad
Goalkeepers: Henry Bonello (Vittoriosa), Nicholas Vella (Valletta).
Defenders: Adrian Borg (Mosta), Steve Borg (Valletta), Ryan Camilleri (Hibs), Tyrone Farrugia (Msida St Joseph), Clifford Gatt Baldacchino (Sliema Wanderers), George Gribbon (Melita).
Midfielders: Richard Chetcuti (Warrington), Beppe Muscat (Vittoriosa), Mark Scerri (Sliema), Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara), Dylan Grima (Valletta), Nigel Rizzo (Melita).
Forwards: Terence Vella (Mosta), Miguel Ciantar (Sliema), Julian Galea (Melita), Kane Micallef (Melita).
U-19 tournament
Malta's U-19 team face the Netherlands in the opening match of the UEFA Mini-Tournament today at the Centenary Stadium (kick-off 11.15 a.m.). In the second match, starting at 2 p.m., the Czech Republic meet Cyprus.
Suspensions
Six players have received a one-match suspension after being sent off in last weekend's National League 100 Anniversary Cup games.
Hibs' midfielder Rumen Galabov and St Patrick's defender Mark Pullicino will miss their teams' fourth-round matches but the other four players - Shawn Tellus (Dingli), Emerson Amaira (St George's), George Saliba (Żebbuġ Rangers) and Jason Cachia (Żejtun Corinthians) - must serve their suspesion in the league as their sides have been knocked out of the National League 100 Anniversary Cup.