Lions to play three friendlies
Singapore's attacking players will have a chance to stake a claim for a first-11 place at November's AFF Suzuki Cup, with three international friendlies lined up.
The Football Association of Singapore yesterday announced that the Lions will play Bahrain in Manama next Thursday, before taking on Malaysia at the National Stadium on Oct 7, and Hong Kong in Kowloon four days later.
With regular strikers Fazrul Nawaz and Khairul Nizam out injured, Lions coach V Sundramoorthy has called up 23-year-old Hougang United attacker Iqbal Hussain to the squad.
Iqbal, who has one cap, will be out to impress, along with veteran Shahril Ishak - who has not seen much action on the international stage in the last two years - and Sahil Suhaimi, who has struggled for form at his club Geylang International this season.
Said Sundram: "Hong Kong have good and physically strong players, some of whom are naturalised.
"Their playing style is similar to some of our opponents at the AFF Suzuki Cup, and we are looking forward to the game.
"Bahrain, being 33 places above us in the Fifa world rankings, will also be a good test for us."
Tickets for the Malaysia game will be available from www.sportshubtix.sg from 12.00pm next Thursday.
- SAZALI ABDUL AZIZ
THE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Hassan Sunny (Army United, Thailand), Izwan Mahbud (Tampines Rovers)
Defenders: Baihakki Khaizan (Johor Darul Ta'zim II, Malaysia) Shakir Hamzah (Tampines) Faritz Hameed, Daniel Bennett (Geylang International) Nazrul Nazari (Hougang United) Madhu Mohana (Warriors FC) Juma'at Jantan (Home United)
Midfielders: Hariss Harun (Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia) Safuwan Baharudin (PDRM FA, Malaysia) Izzdin Shafiq, Yasir Hanapi, Hafiz Abu Sujad (Tampines) Zulfahmi Arifin, Azhar Sairudin (Home) Gabriel Quak, Safirul Sulaiman (Geylang) M Anumanthan (Hougang) Hafiz Nor (Warriors)
Forwards: Shahril Ishak (JDT II) Khairul Amri (Garena Young Lions) Sahil Suhaimi (Geylang) Iqbal Hussain (Hougang).
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