Miller backs young guns to maintain momentum

Malta U-21 will be striving to follow up their 2-1 victory over Bosnia Herzegovina with another fruitful outing against Wales at the Hibs Ground this afternoon (kick-off 1.30 p.m.).

The morale of the home team ought to be high after they snapped a five-match losing streak with a home win over Bosnia in their last outing back in November but coach Mark Miller has complained that injuries and work-related issues for a number of players in the U-21 squad have disrupted his preparations for today's Group 10 qualifier.

"We've encountered some difficulties in the build-up to this match," Miller told The Times.

"Goalkeeper Luke Woods and Andrei Agius are out with injuries and Edmond Agius is suspended. Several other players have had to report for work in the last two days.

"Andrè Schembri, who is still eligible to play for the U-21s, would have been available for this match but he has decided to go for a training camp with his club."

Despite the topsy-turvy nature of the team's build-up, Miller is cautiously confident of a positive result for his side against the resurgent Welsh.

"We suffered a 3-1 defeat in Wales," Miller commented. "They are very strong in and around the box. Wales are on a high after beating France 4-2. They are coming here with a winning attitude because they can go top of the group if they take three points off us.

"Our task is a little bit more difficult than it was but I still believe that if everyone in our team plays well, we can get something from this match."

Miller will be relying on his tried-and-tested players, even if some of them, the likes of Dyson Falzon and Steve Meilak, have not been playing regularly for their clubs lately.

"I will bank on the players I know best," Miller said. "I've told them: 'You're not playing at the moment but on Tuesday, you'll get a chance to play. Make sure you seize the opportunity'."

The progress of the U-21 players drew positive words from national coach Dusan Fitzel who has advised Ryan Fenech to rejoin Miller's squad for today's qualifier after the young midfielder made his debut for Malta in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Armenia.

"I'm proud that Fitzel has spoken so positively about the U-21s," Miller said. "We work together every day and our relationship is very good now. At the beginning it was a bit sticky but we have the same beliefs as to the best way forward for youth football.

"Fitzel is motivating my players. His interest in the U-21s is having what I call a rebound effect. Ryan Fenech did a good job for the national team on Saturday and he came back to us with a great attitude, he's been buzzing on the pitch.

"People like Clayton Failla, Jonathan Caruana, Paul Fenech, Steve Bezzina and others will get there as well. Most of the U-21 players don't get paid much but their motivation is to get into the national squad and a earn themselves a better contract at club level."

Shifting his focus back on today's clash with Wales, Malta's seventh in this competition, Miller reiterated his optimism of a good outing for Malta.

"I feel it in my bones," Miller replied when asked how confident he felt about his team's chances of denying Wales victory. "Football has a funny way of answering you. I really hope that, for the benefit of Maltese football, we do well against Wales."

Probable team: M. Montfort, E. Herrera, J. Caruana, S. Bezzina, C. Failla, D. Falzon, T. Farrugia, R. Fenech, M. Bartolo, I. Zammit, P. Fenech.