Slovakia's top goalscorer Robert Vittek will not recover from injury in time for Euro 2016, though Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has been named in the provisional squad that will be narrowed down from 27 to 23 at the end of May.

Vittek will be missed

World Cup 2010 hero Vittek is Slovakia's all time top goalscorer with 23 goals, four of which came six years ago in a campaign where they defeated Italy to reach the last sixteen of the global tournament in South Africa. However, defensive lynchpin Skrtel will return after an injury hit season with Liverpool that resulting in him losing his place in the side and not being selected for the Europa League Final against Sevilla.

If Slovakia are to progress in a group that includes England, Wales and Russia, they will be looking towards Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik to pull the strings in midfield. The mohican-stradden 28 year old has played over 300 times for the Italian club, scoring 81 goals.

A couple of blasts from the past

Premier League fans may also recognise a handful of other names in Head Coach Jan Kozak's squad. Winger Vladimir Weiss was on the books of Manchester City between 2009 and 2012, but only made one appearance for the club along with brief loan spells at Bolton Wanderers and Rangers.

Fellow wide player Miroslav Stoch also spent time in the Premier League, but he struggled to break into the Chelsea team between 2008 and 2010, making just four appearances. Stoch did however win the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal of 2012 during his time at Turkish club Fenerbahce

Turkey based Miroslav Stoch is capable of the extraordinary (photo: The Telegraph)
Turkey based Miroslav Stoch is capable of the extraordinary (photo: The Telegraph)

Jan Kozak's squad consists of just three strikers as they seek to keep the likes of Wayne Rooney and Gareth Bale at bay. The squad in full reads as follows:

Goalkeepers: Matus Kozacik, Jan Mucha, Jan Novota

Defenders: Peter Pekarik, Milan Skriniar, Martin Skrtel, Norbert Gyoember, Jan Durica, Kornel Salata, Tomas Hubocan, Dusan Svento, Lukas Tesak

Midfielders: Viktor Pecovsky, Matus Bero, Robert Mak, Erik Sabo, Juraj Kucka, Patrik Hrosovsky, Jan Gregus, Stanislav Sestak, Marek Hamsik, Ondrej Duda, Miroslav Stoch, Vladimir Weiss

Forwards: Michal Duris, Adam Nemec, Adam Zrelak

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