Henry Bonello has been named in Devis Mangia’s 30-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Croatia and Slovakia scheduled for next month at the National Stadium.
The Ħamrun Spartans goalkeeper suffered an ankle injury during last month’s qualifier against Cyprus in Larnaca and after initial tests, he had been diagnosed to have strained his ankle ligaments and was expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks.
However, the former Valletta FC goalkeeper has recovered earlier than expected and on Thursday he was back in training with the Spartans senior squad and has suffered no reaction.
Bonello is now set to make himself available for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Sirens and also for Malta’s final double-header next month.
Elsewhere, Gżira United defender Steve Borg is still sidelined from Malta’s final qualifiers as he continues his recovery from an adductor injury.
St Johnstone defender James Brown, who was ruled out of last month’s qualifiers against Slovenia and Cyprus with a hamstring injury, also made the 30-man squad.
Hibernians duo Andrei Agius and Bjorn Kristensen were handed a recall after they were omitted from last month’s squad after being disciplined for their behaviour during the Europa Conference League match against FC Riga.
Matthew Guillaumier is also back in the national squad for the first time this season after recovering from a knee injury.
THE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Henry Bonello (Ħamrun Spartans), Cain Formosa (San Ġwann), Jake Galea (Balzan), Matthew Grech (Floriana).
Defenders: Andrei Agius (Hibernians), Jean Borg (Valletta), James Brown (St Johnstone), Triston Caruana (Valletta), Karl Micallef (Ħamrun Spartans), Zach Muscat (Casa Pia, Portugal), Enrico Pepe (Birkirkara), Kurt Shaw (Sliema Wanderers).
Midfielders: Cain Attard (Birkirkara), Ryan Camenzuli (Floriana), Juan Carlos Corbalan (Ħamrun Spartans), Matthew Guillaumier (Ħamrun Spartans), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians), Adam Magri Overend (Floriana FC), Joseph Mbong (Ħamrun Spartans), Steve Pisani (Gżira United), Nevin Portelli (Gżira United), Teddy Teuma (R.U. Saint Gilloise, Belgium), Dunstan Vella (Hibernians).
Forwards: Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians), Shaun Dimech (Valletta), Luke Gambin (Ħamrun Spartans), Jake Grech (Hibernians), Paul Mbong (Birkirkara), Luke Montebello (Birkirkara), Alexander Satariano (Frosinone, Italy).
