The announcement of Sammut's success could not have come at a better time for the Marsaxlokk midfielder who will be presented with The Times Best Player trophy during tonight's Replay Gala Night.

Having already been voted best midfielder in the Premier League at the Malta Football Awards, Sammut, 27, has good reason to be upbeat about his prospects of adding to his array of personal honours at tonight's Replay Gala Night, given that he's a finalist in two categories, best midfielder and best Maltese player.

The past few weeks have surely brought great satisfaction to Sammut who has spoken of his delight at fulfilling his childhood ambition of winning the MFA award for best player.

"When I started to play football, I had two dreams," Sammut told The Times.

"The first was to represent my country at senior level and the second to join the list of those winning the MFA Player of the Year award.

"So you can imagine my joy when I heard that I've been named MFA Player of the Year for 2007-08. Football is a team game but it's always pleasant to earn recognition for one's efforts.

"I couldn't have asked for more this summer as, besides the MFA accolade, I've also been named The Times Best Player and Best Midfielder in the Premier League at the Malta Football Awards."

Sammut's starring role in this year's individual stakes may not have come as a surprise but it would have taken a very brave man to bet on him achieving this success last summer amid Marsaxlokk's difficulties to get their league campaign up and running.

"The early months of last season were a period of instability for Marsaxlokk," Sammut admitted.

"We were badly affected by the uncertainty created by the departure of the former president and the loss of a number of key players. Suffice to say that we didn't have one pure forward in our squad for the first four months of the season.

"We had a very difficult start and I think we all found it hard to cope in those circumstances but our form began to pick up in the second round. The arrival of Julio Alcorse and Aleksandar Madzar during the January transfer window gave our attack a new dimension.

"In the early weeks of the season, I struggled to make an impact but it was hard for the midfielders to be effective because of the team's lack of firepower up front."

Sammut admits that the personal accolades coming his way this year have left him with a sense of belated vindication, having failed to land a major award after helping Marsaxlokk to their first Premier League title the previous season.

"I honestly feel that my performance level was better when Marsaxlokk won the league than it was in the last campaign," Sammut, who is sponsored by Kelme, remarked.

"In fact, I was voted player of the match on more occasions in 2006-07 than I was last season. Without taking anything away from Gilbert Agius's merits, last year I expected a Marsaxlokk player to win the MFA Player of the Year award after we clinched the league title. Having said that, last season was one of the best in my career so far."

Capped 23 times for Malta, Sammut has been a fixture in the national team for much of the past three years but his international season ended on a somewhat sour note after he was left out of the squad for the pre-Euro 2008 friendly against Austria in Graz.

Careful not to stir up controversy over his omission from the last Maltese squad, Sammut paid credit to national coach Dusan Fitzel for giving him the chance to prove himself for the national team.

"I only became a regular for the national team after Fitzel took charge," Sammut said.

"I earned my first call-up to the senior squad when Sigi Held was national coach but my first-team opportunities then were very limited. Even under Horst Heese I didn't play regularly for Malta but Fitzel showed that he believed in my capabilities by selecting me in the first team for the majority of the matches played by Malta in the last three years.

"It's true that I was left out of the squad for the Austria friendly but the coach made that decision and I respect it. If anything, it has increased my determination to improve and show that I deserve to be in the national squad."

As one of the best players in the Premier League last season, many tipped the country's wealthy clubs to make a move for Sammut but much to the relief of the Marsaxlokk fans, his name has been surprisingly absent from transfer speculation.

Former team-mates Jamie Pace and Cleaven Frendo have heeded the call of former boss Victor Sciriha to join him at Valletta but Sammut has no intention of quitting Marsaxlokk, who will compete in the UEFA Cup this season after finishing second in the league.

"I'm settled at Marsaxlokk," Sammut said. "I've got two years left on my contract but we're in the process of discussing a one-year extension."

Although Marsaxlokk are keen to hold on to their prized asset, they are unlikely to stand in his way if he receives an offer to play abroad.

"My ambition is to join a foreign club," Sammut said.

"I want to experience football in a truly professional way. My agent has told me of interest from clubs in the United Arab Emirates but at present, I can only wait to see how the situation develops.

"I relish a new challenge in my career and these awards have strengthened my self-belief that I can make the grade in a better league. I'm also aware that these prizes will raise people's expectations about me. I know that I will be under more pressure to maintain the high standards I've reached in the last two years but I see that as something positive because it will keep me on my toes."

Results

Footballer of the Year: 1. K. Sammut (Marsaxlokk) 52.46; 2. G. Mallia (Birkirkara) 42.33; 3. A. Hogg (Valletta) 38.36; 4. R. Fenech (Ħamrun Spartans) 36.66; 5. D. Camilleri (Valletta) 33.19.

Best Division One player: J. Farrugia (Qormi) 53.41.

Best Division Two player: J. Tonna (Rabat) 42.70.

Best Division Three player: R. Debattista (Pembroke) 44.02.

Best Youth Player: S. Grech (Pietà Hotspurs) 52.03.

Best Woman Player: S. Costantino (Melita) 45.13.