Injury spectre looms over LionsXII Doctors give Safuwan go-ahead to train, Sundram yet to decide on starting backline

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SINGAPORE - V Sundramoorthy's LionsXII side are still three weeks away from their Malaysia Super League (MSL) opening match against defending champions Kelantan, but the grim spectre of injury has already started to loom at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

The team's defence has already been hit with setbacks - central defender Safuwan Baharudin (picture) was diagnosed with a meniscus tear in his right knee and left fullback Shaiful Esah picked up an ankle injury that saw him undergo a modified training session in the rain at Jalan Besar last night.

Safuwan has received contradictory advice from medical experts, and has opted to keep plugging away on the pitch.

"The latest scans show that there is a tear and the cyst that is present is growing bigger. Initially they told me I should go for surgery, and now I've been told that it's better for me not to go, and try a more conservative approach like physiotherapy," said Safuwan.

"The Singapore Sports Council doctors have told me to carry on with normal training and I'll go for surgery when the need arises."

The 20-year-old did not look too perturbed by his injury last night, and coach Sundram is refusing to speculate on the availability of his defensive duo, or on his probable starting back four.

"I don't want to comment about the possibility of surgery, that is one for the medical team, but I'm just happy to have (Safuwan) in the squad and ready to play, and looking at the training session, he's doing okay," he said.

"It's too early to say who will start, we're still three weeks away from kick-off and we still need time to settle. In my books, all my defenders are contenders, and those who perform well in training will play."

Baihakki Khaizan is another strong candidate for a starting spot in central defence but his match fitness remains in question.

Baihakki has not played a competitive fixture since May when his last team, the Medan Chiefs, stopped playing after the Indonesia Premier League (LPI) closed their doors, but he has kept in shape by joining Hougang United in training and with regular gym sessions.

Safuwan's injury and Baihakki's fitness concerns mean that Sevki Sha'ban, Madhu Mohana and brothers Shahir and Shakir Hamzah will be vying to be the first-choice pairing in central defence.

Sundram could also deploy central midfielder Hariss Harun, who has played in defence, as a makeshift defender.

Singapore international Juma'at Jantan looks set to make the right fullback slot his own, while Irwan Shah's performances in training have shown that there is hot competition for the left fullback slot in the team.

Izwan Mahbud looks set to start between the sticks for the LionsXII, with Hyrulnizam Juma'at looking sharper with each session.

And the LionsXII will get their first competitive test this Saturday against Johor at Jalan Besar in a closed-door affair, with games against PKNS and ATM, the "Manchester City of Malaysia", later this month.

"This is about giving players a run out, getting them to play matches and looking at what we've been working on in training, for that transference from training to the match," said Sundram.