Football
ESPN staff 9y

Malaysia Captain Shukor rushing to be fit for first leg against Thailand

Malaysia head coach Dollah Salleh is hoping defensive rock Shukor Adan will be fit enough to play away to Thailand in the first leg of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup final on Wednesday night.

The Felda United veteran had a fantastic semifinal in their second leg 4-2 win over Vietnam in Hanoi. He even found his midas touch with the fourth goal for Harimau Malaya to help book a trip to Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium.

But Shukor pulled up with a back injury during Malaysia's training session at Muangthong United's SCG Stadium on Monday and requested team doctors to send him straight to hospital to seek treatment.

A concerned Dollah knows the importance of having his key defender for the first leg battle. He hinted that he is ready to wait till the very last minute to give Shukor every chance of taking to the field.

The former Pahang FA coach told The Star: "Shukor is the only one who can organise the defence well. He shouts to alert the other players to get into a formation.

"If he can't play, either Muslim Ahmad or Afif Amiruddin will have to stand in. They have to be ready."

Shukor himself is not too optimistic about his chances of playing in the first leg. But he says he is doing all he can to get back to fitness and help his team lift their second Suzuki Cup title.

"The knock is causing me some discomfort in training," said Shukor. "I thought it would be OK after a couple of days, but it's four days and it is still bugging me.

"Missing games is part and parcel of being a footballer, but I am doing my best to ensure I get to start in the best possible condition."

If Shukor fails to start, Fadhli Shas will likely partner Muslim Ahmad while Zubir Azmi and S. Kunalan will continue in their full-back roles.

The first leg will take place on Wednesday while the return leg is scheduled for this Saturday at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

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