Tampines Rovers coach Akbar Nawas says that his star signing Jermaine Pennant will "definitely play a part" in Saturday's Singapore Cup final against Albirex Niigata (S).
The former Arsenal and Liverpool man should be well-rested for this big game after being left out of the Stags' squad that defeated Albirex in an end-of-season league match on Wednesday night.
Despite his absence, Tampines flourished, with American teenager Diego Silvas scoring a brace on his S.League debut, and fellow attackers Billy Mehmet, Jordan Webb, and Shahdan Sulaiman also on the scoresheet in an emphatic 5-1 victory over the newly crowned S.League champions.
That result has given Akbar a good selection headache ahead of the Cup final. Only long-term injury victim Fazrul Nawaz, and the suspended Jufri Taha, will miss the game.
"Whether Jermaine starts or comes off the bench, I'm not sure yet so let's see," said the former National Football Academy trainer. "I've to assess during training and whoever looks sharp will play.
"It was a great performance from the boys to win 5-1 and I've to give credit to them for that. If we had played like this from the start, we could have been champions of the league."
It has not been an easy period for the Stags, with the players being informed three weeks ago to accept drastic pay cuts if they want to stay at the club for next season.
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At least on the pitch, the five-time champions are showing no signs of being distracted. They beat Garena Young Lions 3-1 and Balestier Khalsa 2-0 before the emphatic win against Albirex as they sealed second spot in the league.
"The off-the-field conditions isn't great; let's not lie about it," admitted Akbar. "I've played the game and I know how it feels; definitely it will hang around a bit. I really have to give credit to my players for playing professionally in the last two to three games."
For a club of Tampines' stature, it may sound surprising that they have not won the Singapore Cup in the last 10 years. Winners in 2002, 2004 and 2006, they then faltered in the 2007, 2010 and 2012 finals.
Akbar is keen to end that unwanted streak and end his first season in charge of the Stags with some silverware.
"It's been 10 years; even I didn't know previously and I thought Tampines have been winning all this while," he joked. "To win the Cup will be the icing on the cake for me.
"For us to finish second in the league, and just one point behind Albirex, reach the quarterfinals of the AFC Cup and semifinals of the League Cup, have been good achievements.
"But the most massive one must be beating two Philippines teams [Global FC and Ceres La Salle] en route to the Singapore Cup final, which wasn't easy at all, and we want to complete the job on Saturday."
It will not be easy, though, as Albirex are gunning to complete an unpredecented quadruple of trophies. The White Swans have already lifted the Charity Shield and League Cup, prior to winning the league.
Nonetheless, coach Naoki Naruo, whose first stint with the White Swans in 2009 ended with a disappointing seventh-place league finish and no trophies, is keen not to underestimate Tampines.
"Tampines have good individuals with speed and our defence was not solid, that's why we conceded five goals that day," said the 42-year-old.
"They have the best squad in this league; that's why we have to show our style of football and display our skill to win. We've to be on our best to beat them."