KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) midfielder Natxo Insa appears to have fully shaken off his injury woes after returning to action in the club's 1-0 friendly win over Singapore's Lion City Sailors, yesterday.
The Southern Tigers secured the win thanks to a late strike by Shahrul Saad in the 88th minute. Insa, who was sidelined for several weeks due to injury, marked his return by not only starting the match but also captaining the side, much to the delight of the JDT faithful.
Also making a return was naturalised forward Romel Morales, who had been recovering from an injury of his own. The duo's involvement in yesterday's match was a major boost for JDT as they prepare for a busy few weeks of competition.
JDT are set to face KL Rovers in the Malaysia Cup round-of-16 this Wednesday, before tackling Shandong Taishan in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) on Nov 26.
Insa, 38, has been a pivotal figure for JDT, especially in their ACLE campaign, where they currently sit fourth in the East Zone with seven points from two wins, one draw, and one loss. His leadership and experience will be invaluable as JDT push for silverware in both domestic and continental competitions.
With the duo now back to full fitness, JDT fans will be hoping that Insa's leadership and Morales' firepower will play a key role as the club enters the crucial stage of their season, with high-stakes matches on both domestic and international fronts.