KUALA LUMPUR - He stood in the team huddle listening to the final words of coach K Rajagobal after Malaysia's 90-minute session at the Bukit Jalil Stadum on Friday - and that was the closest Norshahrul Idlan came to participating in any sort of team-centred training.
Malaysia's hotshot forward, who is set to be the biggest threat to Singapore's defence when the two teams meet on Saturday in the first leg of the second round Asian Zone World Cup qualifier at Jalan Besar Stadium, is facing a race against time to be fit for the match.
Hampered by a hamstring injury, the gifted striker told Today on Friday: "It's about a week to the game, and our physio is trying to push me, and I'm doing my best as well to get back in time for the game."
Norshahrul enjoyed a breakout performance last year at the AFF Suzuki Cup. While he netted only twice, he was involved in most of Malaysia's meaningful attacking moves with his nifty dribbling skills and wonderful eye for a pass, playing a key role as the team went on to lift the ASEAN title for the first time.
He is a player in the mould of former Malaysian great Zainal Abidin, and the Lions will breathe a little easier if Malaysia's No 9 fails to pass the fitness test for their July 23 date. The return leg will be at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur five days later.
Norshahrul was reduced to swapping his boots for trainers and as he went jogging around the Bukit Jalil green on Friday.
The 25-year-old is clearly desperate to play, judging by the effort he put in.
Despite the injury, the physio assigned to accompany Norshahrul around the pitch had to stop for frequent breaks to catch his breath while the stocky forward, gifted with uncannily nifty feet, kept up a tough pace.
When the required laps were clocked, push-ups and crunches were done in turn, and he only stopped when Rajagobal called for the team huddle at the end of the session.
Speaking in a mixture of English and Malay after the workout, Norshahrul said: "After the Suzuki Cup there's been quite a bit of attention and publicity on me, but it's not a problem. In fact, it actually motivates me to focus and concentrate to the best of my ability when I'm out on the pitch."
The Suzuki Cup performance was the final thrust in the meteoric rise of Norshahrul in a year that saw him win the Malaysia Cup with Kelantan.
He was voted most valuable player and best forward in Malaysia's annual football awards ceremony.
He is now at the forefront of a revival in Malaysian football, but he won't allow it to get to his head.
"There may be some who look at me as a superstar, but I still have a lot to learn," he said.
"I do not feel like a marked man when I play these days, be it in international games or in the league, but I'm confident and will just try my best to be consistent in every game I play."
Besides the fitness of their star striker, Malaysian coach Rajagobal also has to worry about his defence.
Malaysia conceded four goals over two games against unfancied Taiwan in the first round of World Cup qualifiers. They conceded four against Arsenal on Wednesday, and six against Liverpool yesterday in a 6-3 massacre.
Influential central defender Aidil Zafuan, who was out injured when Malaysia won the Suzuki Cup, recently returned to the side, only to suffer an ankle injury in the loss to Arsenal.
That is likely to cause a shuffle in the Malaysian defensive ranks as Aidil sat out Friday's entire training session and is unlikely to recover in time for Saturday.
Norshahrul believes his team can rise through the adversity, recalling how Malaysia bounced back from a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Indonesia in their opening match at last year's Suzuki Cup.
"Our biggest strength is our team spirit, and we will take strength from the Suzuki Cup and how came together after the disaster against Indonesia.
"That's what we'll do against Singapore."
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