Manny Muscat to miss Perth match to play for Malta

The Wellington Phoenix will be without key defender Manny Muscat for this Sunday's round five A-League soccer match against Perth.

The right back, one of the Phoenix's most consistent performers during the past two seasons, has been called into the Maltese squad for international matches against Israel on Thursday and Latvia next Tuesday.

Troy Hearfield is expected to take Muscat's place for the match in Perth.