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Up to Safuwan to seize chance: Melbourne coach

SINGAPORE — Barely 72 hours after landing in Melbourne, Safuwan Baharudin could make his A-League debut with new club Melbourne City in tomorrow’s clash (2pm, Singapore time) against bottom club and reigning AFC Champions League champions Western Sydney Wanderers.

Singapore national defender Safuwan Baharudin has made his long-awaited debut for Melbourne City in a 3-0 defeat to city rivals Melbourne Victory today (Feb 7). Photo: Melbourne City FC

Singapore national defender Safuwan Baharudin has made his long-awaited debut for Melbourne City in a 3-0 defeat to city rivals Melbourne Victory today (Feb 7). Photo: Melbourne City FC

SINGAPORE — Barely 72 hours after landing in Melbourne, Safuwan Baharudin could make his A-League debut with new club Melbourne City in tomorrow’s clash (2pm, Singapore time) against bottom club and reigning AFC Champions League champions Western Sydney Wanderers.

The Singapore national defender secured the three-month loan move from the LionsXII after impressing in the club’s 10-day training camp in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, where he featured in two friendly matches.

Melbourne City head coach John van’t Schip believes the 23-year-old will provide the squad with more defensive options for the rest of the season after key defender Rob Wielaert was ruled out for at least three weeks with an ankle injury.

“We got him in because we believe in the qualities he showed us during our 10-day training stint in Abu Dhabi,” said Van’t Schip, who won the 1988 European Championships with his native Netherlands.

“He’s still young so he can only get better. We are confident he is a player that can play at this level and it’s up to him to compete with the other players and show he can be in the starting line-up.”

City are sixth in the 10-team Hyundai A-League. There are 13 more league matches to play before the regular season ends, and the top six teams will qualify for the Finals series, where the overall champions will be determined.

And with Brisbane Roar just four points adrift, Van’t Schip insists his side can ill-afford any slip ups if they want to make the playoffs.

“We are in playoff position but Brisbane is close behind us and the other teams have a lot of points above us,” he said. “This game is massive and we have a derby against Melbourne Victory next week. We’re not in the position where we can afford to drop too many points.”

In a video interview uploaded on the club’s website on Thursday, Safuwan said he will be looking to step up and impress, knowing fully well that this is just the first step in his footballing career and doing well may open up more doors in future.

“It won’t be easy to step up to the game against Western Sydney, because it is a different culture over here,” he said. “John (van’t Schip) spoke to me about wanting to include me in the team for Sunday. Hopefully things go well and I’m looking forward to Sunday’s game.”

The Melbourne City FC game will be screened live tomorrow on StarHub’s Super Sports 2 (Channel 202) from 1.55pm.

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