Shefki Kuqi has opted to put club before country and stay in South Wales to help the Swans promotion push
The Swansea City striker has agreed with the Finnish team that he does not have to travel for next week's friendly match and instead can stay with the Swans to prepare for their top of the table clash at Nottingham Forest a week on Saturday.
Explaining his decision via the club's official site, Kuqi said "I spoke with the coach in Finland and he understood my situation
"We [Swansea] have seven games in March so it is a very busy time for us.
"There is going to be a lot of travelling involved and as the game in Malta was only a friendly I asked if I could be left out of the squad.
"And to be fair he was he was happy for me to stay behind and for that I am grateful."
"I am grateful to Shefki for staying with us because we can now prepare with him," said Paulo Sousa via the same source.
"It's an important decision for us especially with so many games in March.
"And it's very important that the Finland have shown a compromise in this situation, for which I am also grateful.