Finland-based Nooa game for competition with old hands for starting spot

Hopeful: Nooa Laine (right) is looking forward to playing for Malaysia against India.

KUALA LUMPUR: Finland-based youngster Nooa Laine is not perturbed that he has to fight with several old hands to get into the starting 11 for Malaysia’s opening game in the Merdeka Tournament at the National Stadium tomorrow.

Laine, 20, played in the friendly matches against Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea in Kuala Terengganu in June but the Merdeka Tournament will be his first international competition.