Brad Maloney.
Brad Maloney.

Coach Brad Maloney is not perturbed though the national Under-20 team face some hiccups due to injuries in their first phase of training.

The team are preparing for the Asian Cup Under-23 qualifiers in Mongolia on Oct 27-31 where Malaysia are drawn in Group J with Mongolia, Thailand and Laos.

Maloney had to drop six injured players from the initial call-up list and bring in new faces as replacements for the nine-day centralised camp which began on Tuesday.

Those dropped were two goalkeepers -Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman (Selangor) and Nabil Asyraf Ramli (FAM-MSN project), and Hairiey Hakim Mamat (Terengganu II), Ahmad Aysar Hadi Mohd Shapri (Johor Darul Ta'zim II), Aiman Afif Md Afizul (Kedah) and Muhammad Hazwan Hassan (FAM-MSN).

Three new faces: Perak goalkeeper Muhammad Azri Ab Ghani and two JDT II players Chia Ruo Han and Muhamad Alif Abdul Mutalib were called up to complete the 24-player squad.

Maloney had previously wanted to hold the training camp in June but the MCO forced him to scrap his plan.

The Australian conceded that he does do not have the luxury of time in preparing the team.

Maloney said he plans to have the team play matches abroad, in friendlies or competitions before they head to Mongolia for the Under- 23 Asian Cup.

Maloney added that they are looking at several countries as a venue for the team's final training camp, but in view of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Dubai seems to be the perfect

location.

"The Covid-19 situation in Dubai seems to be very much under control, and they hosted the World Cup qualifiers a few months ago. So, they are a very suitable venue."