PAUL Sixsmith, the latest product of the Bolton junior football scene to make the international grade, missed out on his fifth cap last night ... because of work commitments!

The one-time Manchester United starlet was due to play for Malta in their friendly against Wales in Valletta but he was on duty as manager of a Sliema hotel on Monday when the squad assembled and had to pull out.

"The coach told me I would have played," Sixsmith said after watching his international team-mates beaten 3-0 by Bobby Gould's young dragons. "We're not full-time professional here and you have to combine work and football. It's just one of those things."

Sixsmith, who graduated from the crack Moss Bank U-11s and later the Bolton Lads Club team that produced Garry Flitcroft, has won four caps since being granted Maltese citizenship eight months ago after marrying a local girl.

Now 26, he has spent the last six years with Valletta-based club Naxxer Lions after being released by United.

Despite his omission from last night's line-up, Sixsmith is looking forward to summer friendlies against Northern Ireland and Germany before Malta open their European Championship qualifying campaign against Croatia.

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