PETALING JAYA: National midfield enforcer Nooa Laine is feeling at home with Malaysia football team coach Peter Cklamovski’s style of using a double pivot system in the middle department.
The Australian’s 4-2-3-1 formation sees him playing two defensive midfielders, one being the ball winner while the other operates as a deep-lying playmaker.
The 22-year-old Nooa, who joined Selangor from Finnish club SJK Seinajoki in April last year, has been a standout in both roles in the Super League.
‘’With Selangor, I’ve played in a similar system as a defensive midfielder, rotating as a ball winner and deep-lying playmaker. I’m looking forward to taking on that role if I’m picked to start for Malaysia,’’ said Nooa, who has won 11 caps with the Harimau Malaya since 2023.
Malaysia take on Nepal in a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Tuesday.
Nooa is one of a few options in the water carrier’s role for Cklamovski, along with Penang’s Syamer Kutty Abba and Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Afiq Fazail and Natxo Insa, whose thigh injury still makes him a doubtful starter for now.
The Finnish-born Nooa, whose father is Malaysian, is excited to be in such quality company.
‘’It’s good that all of us are pushing ourselves for a first-team spot,’’ he added.
