Switzerland’s German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, yesterday named an experienced 18-man squad, including midfielder Blerim Dzemaili, who was selected in the Switzerland squad to face Malta in a friendly international next Wednesday, for the first time in almost two years.

Malta’s first international match for 2011, will provide coach John Buttigieg with another opportunity to evaluate the players in the Malta squad, putting them in the fray to assess better their capabilities.

Options regarding new faces in the team will not be excluded.

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said the Parma player was rewarded for his form and consistency after recovering from injuries.

“Dzemaili is a quality player who has always been in my thoughts,” said Hitzfeld, who awarded the 24-year-old player the last of his 10 caps in April 2009.

Hitzfeld said he picked an experienced 18-man squad travelling to Malta for next Wednesday’s match because there is no time to experiment before a crucial 2012 European Championship qualifier in Bulgaria on 26 March.

“We absolutely must impose ourselves on Bulgaria to maintain our chances of qualifying,” the veteran coach said.

Switzerland already have lost Group G matches against Montenegro and England, and trail both in the five-team pool.

Switzerland squad:

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys)

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Johan Djourou (Arsenal), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Steve

Von Bergen (Cesena), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria)

Midfielders: David Degen (Young Boys), Gelson Fernandes (Chievo), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Blerim Dzemaili (Parma), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel), Valentin Stocker (FC Basel)

Forwards: Alex Frei (FC Basel), Marco Streller (FC Basel), Hakan Yakin (Lucerne), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen)