Mattocks relishing Sliema challenge

Marsaxlokk and Msida St Joseph were deemed as favourites to snap up the signature of Claude Mattocks before Sliema Wanderers expressed an interest in the Floriana skipper.

And it took the Malta champions only a couple of days to tie up a deal with their Old-Firm rivals by way of which Mattocks has moved to Sliema on a season-long loan in exchange for defender Ian Ciantar who has teamed up with his younger brother Clifton at Floriana.

The 24-year-old Mattocks, who figured for Malta in this year's International Tournament at Ta' Qali before a hamstring injury curtailed his progress, knows he faces a strong competition for the midfield berths at Sliema but he is looking forward to the challenge.

"It's a positive step, a new challenge," Mattocks told The Times.

"Sliema being the best team in Malta, I am delighted that they have shown such keen interest in me."

Mattocks has spent 14 years at Floriana and is one of a host of talented players who were nurtured by the club's youth system. Mattocks' first club, however, was Sliema Wanderers.

"This is my ninth season in the Premier League and I'm looking forward to having a good year with Sliema, the club I first joined as a nursery player," Mattocks said.

"There is a healthy competition for first-team places at Sliema but that will only add to my motivation. I will work hard to show that I deserve a regular place but obviously the team decisions are made by coaches.

"My move should also brighten my prospects of winning some domestic honour.

"Sliema have been at the summit of Maltese football for two years but I see no reason why they should not be successful this season. Playing for them should also benefit my international career after my call-up to the national squad last year."

A good season will also strengthen his chances of making his move to Sliema a permanent one but Mattocks refuses to look too far beyond.

"My immediate goal is to concentrate on making the most of this opportunity and then, when the time comes, I will review my options," he said.

Robert Arrigo, the Sliema president, is pleased that Mattocks's move has materialised but pointed out that the club acted on Ciantar's request in letting him join another club.

Arrigo also said that Malta striker Michael Mifsud will join Norwegian club Lillestrom after Sliema's second leg away to FBK Kaunas in the first qualifying round of the Champions League on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Mifsud and Sliema have come to an agreement on the terms of his release after the player's initial bid to sign for Lillestrom was blocked.

Mifsud spent more than 10 days in Norway but then opted to return to Malta where he has had talks with Arrigo over his transfer.

The Malta forward played for Sliema in the Euro Challenge Cup match against Marsaxlokk and in last Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to FBK Kaunas at the National Stadium.

Sliema are already scouring the local market in search of a suitable replacement for Mifsud.

Aganun poised for Austria move

Sources close to Premier League club Msida St Joseph have told The Times that their Nigerian striker Olumuyiwa Aganun could join FC Wacker Innsbruck in the coming days.

Aganun is said to have left a good impression during his one-week trial with the Austrian club. The Nigerian returned to Malta earlier this week but has been invited to fly back to Austria for negotiations with high-ranking officials from Wacker Innsbruck, formerly known as Tirol Innsbruck.

Msida, who recently elected former Torino chief Roberto Goveani as their new president, had Aganun, fellow Nigerian striker Daniel Nwoke and Italian Manuel Boni as their three foreign players last season.

They are believed to be in favour of signing a number of players from EU countries and Aganun's possible transfer to Innsbruck would put them in a position to strengthen their squad by acquiring more overseas players.