PETALING JAYA: The absence of defenders Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee and Muhammad Azam Azmi Murad will not affect the Harimau Malaya squad in their preparations to take on Singapore in the last Group B match of the 2022 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup.
The match will be played at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil on Jan 3.
Centre back Sharul Nazeem Zulpakar expressed his belief that other players can fill the gap left by the two players for the upcoming Causeway Derby.
"We have replacements there, and coach Kim Pan Gon has his plans. I think we won't be affected. All players called up has potential and are good," he told reporters during the training session here today.
Questions have been flying around the status of Ahmad Khuzaimi's injury especially after he was spotted using a cane following Malaysia's 1-0 win over Myanmar in the opening Group B match in Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon on Dec 21.
Muhammad Azam meanwhile picked up a red card from Japanese referee Ryuji Sato for an alleged foul on Doan Van Hau outside the playing field in the controversial 0-3 defeat to Vietnam at My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi last Tuesday.
Sharul Nazeem also expressed his determination to deny Singaporean players, especially star striker Ilhan Fandi Ahmad, any chance of threatening Malaysia's goal.
"Ilhan has good physique and finishing….maybe coach Kim has stressed to us to mark him well," he said, adding that he felt they must win against Singapore to obtain three points and qualify for the semifinals.
Meanwhile, midfielder Muhammad Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi expressed his hope that Malaysia would make the most of any opportunity to score via set pieces during their match against Singapore as the national squad has yet to score in the tournament that way.
Muhammad Mukhairi also said that his teammates had put their loss in Hanoi behind them and are focused on qualifying for the semifinals.
Pan Gon, who was not at today's training session, is said to be in Singapore to 'spy' on the neighbouring team during their match against Vietnam in Jalan Besar Stadium. -- BERNAMA