Indonesia head coach Alfred Riedl has admitted that star player Irfan Bachdim may not recover from injury in time to make the final squad for the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup which kicks off on Nov. 22.
The Japan-based attacker is desperately trying to show the Austrian boss that he should be part of the 23-man party that heads to Vietnam for Group A games with the host nation, the Philippines and Laos. But according to Riedl, time is running out.
"At the moment, it doesn't look good for him," Riedl told ESPN FC ahead of the team's final warm-up game against Syria in Jakarta on Saturday, a game that the 26 year-old will watch from the sidelines.
"He joined up with the team eight days ago and was injured with a muscle problem," Reidl said. "He is still not training with the team. He can warm up and then we give him a physical coach to exercise with but I can't let him play at the moment and there is no time. Players who want to go to Hanoi have to show their form and condition in training."
Since joining Ventforet Kofu in Japan's J.League in January, Bachdim has struggled for playing time, though that is not the main issue, according to Riedl.
"We know that in Japan he did not play but we believe in his talent. He proved this in July against Qatar in Doha when he played very well and was fit and sharp. He is playing for a good club in a good league and having good training but he is not fit."
For the Dutch-born Bachdim, the door to Vietnam is not completely closed but he has to show improvement this weekend.
"I will decide the final squad on Monday as we travel to Vietnam on Tuesday, so after training on the 17th, I will announce the three players from the 26 we have gathered in Jakarta who will stay behind."
Indonesia kick off the campaign against Vietnam in Hanoi as they bid to win the biennial regional tournament for the first time after finishing as runner-up on four occasions.