Sam Magri is happy to let his feet do the talking as the Dover defender prepares to launch a new international career – for Malta.

Magri can’t speak Maltese, so he’s hoping his footballing ability will win over his new team-mates.

The 21-year-old, who joined Whites last month, is the proud new owner of a Maltese passport, courtesy of his paternal grandfather, after he made a whistle-stop trip to the Mediterranean country to pick it up last week.

Now the former Portsmouth and QPR man admits he has a lot of work ahead of him getting to grips with the language.

“I am not the brightest spark, so learning Maltese is going to be tough – they also speak Italian,” joked Magri.

“But it will all be worth it because I am thrilled to have got this opportunity.”

Playing for Malta won’t be the first time Magri has graced the international stage.

He captained the England under-16 side and made 22 appearances for England under-17s, including in the 2011 World Cup in Mexico.

But now his allegiance is with Malta and he’s eyeing a debut in the European under-21 qualifiers in September. Malta travel to the Czech Republic and Montenegro.

He said: “Of course I would have loved to gone on to represent the full England team – who wouldn’t? Every young player harbours that dream but few see it become a reality.

“The thought of playing for Malta has always been with me. Who knows, if I play well for the under-21s, I could find myself playing against England for the senior side – that would be something.”