Chetcuti comeback lifts Malta

By Domenic Aquilina

Jeffrey Chetcuti has made a welcome return to the Malta squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifying games against Iceland and Bulgaria.

Chetcuti returns
The Sliema Wanderers FC player has returned to Horst Heese's squad after missing the 7-0 defeat by Sweden in Malta's last qualifier through injury. He is now expected to don the captain's armband for the home game against Iceland on 9 October and the match in Sofia four days later.

Muscat dropped
Meanwhile, Hibernians FC goalkeeper Mario Muscat has been dropped from the squad for the fist time in seven years after conceding 17 goals in three internationals. Either Pietà Hotspurs FC's Saviour Darmanin or young Birkirkara FC goalkeeper Justin Haber will take over the No1 shirt.

Iceland hope
"Despite not being such a high profile team, Iceland have produced top-quality players in the past, and it will be a very difficult match," Darmanin told uefa.com. "Our limitations and footballing resources remain the same but I am confident that we can get a good result against Iceland."

Malta squad
Haber (Birkirkara FC), Darmanin (Pietà Hotspurs FC), Azzopardi (Floriana FC), Briffa (Birkirkara FC), Chetcuti (Sliema Wanderers FC), Ciantar (Floriana FC), Dimech (Mansfield Town FC), Pulis (Hibernians FC), Said (Sliema Wanderers FC), Wellman (Floriana FC), Agius (Valletta FC), Camenzuli (Birkirkara FC), Giglio (Sliema Wanderers FC), Mallia (Birkirkara FC), Mattocks (Sliema Wanderers FC), Pullicino (Hibernians FC), Sammut (Msida St. Joseph FC), Woods (Pietà Hotspurs FC), Zahra (Birkirkara FC), Barbara (Marsaxlokk FC), Cohen (Hibernians FC), Galea (Birkirkara FC), Mifsud (Lillestrøm SK).