The Malta FA is expected to take the first step towards amending its rules, concerning overseas-born players who hold Maltese citizenship, at this evening's council meeting. The matter was discussed at length by the executive committee on Monday.

Orosco Anonam, the Sliema Wanderers' player of Nigerian origins who last week was granted Maltese citizenship, turned out to be the surprise catalyst of this process.

Anonam, 25, found himself in a dilemma after learning that in spite of his new status as a Maltese and EU citizen, he does not fulfill the criteria laid down in one of the MFA's competition rules whereby every Premier League club's senior team must have eight home-grown players on the field of play at any given time in domestic matches.

These eight mandatory home-grown players must have been registered with the MFA for at least three years and during that period, they were eligible to take part in the MFA's Youth League or other junior competitions recognised by the association.

As Anonam has not spent three years in our youth football and has only become eligible to play for Malta recently, he cannot be considered as a homegrown player in Sliema's starting line-up.

News that Anonam has been called to join the national squad added to the confusion surrounding his case, in the process increasing calls for the MFA to reconsider its rules.

Anonam himself had a private meeting with Dr Joe Mifsud, the MFA president, last week to discuss the issue.

Sources have now told The Times that the subject has been dealt with by the executive committee who have agreed in principle that this restriction should not apply to players who own a Maltese passport and therefore the rule should be revised.

Although the vibes from the MFA look positive, the statute says that competition rules cannot be changed during the course of a season.

This means that the rule on homegrown players is likely to remain in place until next May unless clubs take the bold step of calling an extraordinary general meeting.

Anonam, who reported for his first training session with the national squad yesterday, is hoping that a solution is found soon.

"I am delighted that my application for Maltese citizenship has been successful because I consider myself Maltese," he said. "I have been here a long time and the most important persons in my life are all Maltese.

"However, I'm anything but happy with this situation regarding my status vis-a-vis competition rules. I cannot understand how a player who can play for the national team does not enjoy the same rights as Maltese players in the league. That said, I have to say that I'm pleased to know that the national coaches have noted my performances and invited me to join the Malta squad."

Anonam is not the only player affected by the rule. Australia-born Michael Xuereb, the Hibernians' reserve goalkeeper, is also regarded as a foreigner by the MFA's competition rules despite having a Maltese passport.