Maltese international Luke Dimech is facing a tug of love when Chester fixtures coincide with Malta's two World Cup qualifiers early in September, according to a report on the website icCheshireOnline.

Chester's rescheduled match against Grimsby on Tuesday, 6 September, clashes with Malta's home tie with Croatia, while the trip to Hungary on 3 September would rule Dimech out of the return to former club Mansfield the night before.

Defender Dimech, who has been capped 37 times, is planning to talk to Malta national coach Horst Heese and possibly, MFA president Dr Joe Mifsud. He was reported as saying: "I have to make a decision in the next week because I don't want to miss the games for Chester either. Maybe I will get some special leave so I don't have to play those games, I don't know."

The report said Curle insisted he wouldn't stand in the way of any player representing their country, but warned the big defender his place would be under threat during his absence.

Curle said: "Luke knows if he doesn't play somebody can take his place and put in a performance that keeps them in the team."