KELANA JAYA: Defender Declan Lambert feels he has become a better player on his return to the national football team since he last played for Malaysia in the 2022 King's Cup in Thailand.
Lambert believes that the experience he gained from playing for KL City in the 2022 AFC Cup final and the 2023 FA Cup final has put him in better stead to claim a starting place in the national team.
"It has been a while, I'm very happy to be back here. Two years have been quite some time. I feel like it's still the same and the set-up here is very professional.
"I think I have improved quite a bit from the first time I came here. I have played in a few Cup finals and did well in the AFC Cup and the FA Cup.
"My goal is to prove myself in training and it's up to coach Kim (Pan Gon) to pick the players."
World No. 138 Malaysia, who stunned world No.100 Kyrgyzstan 4-3 in Bukit Jalil last November, must beat the Central Asians in Bishkek, to revive their World Cup qualifying hopes.
This came after Malaysia's World Cup dream took a blow following back-to-back 2-0 losses to No.77 Oman in March.
Lambert said the Malaysian team will head to Bikshek as the underdogs and it could work in their favour as they had stunned Kyrgyzstan before.
"But it will be tough, always playing away is tough especially when you need a win."