PETALING JAYA: Kuching City head coach Aidil Sharin is in no rush to field new arrival Gabriel Palmero for the Malaysia Cup quarter-final second leg match against Brunei today.
Harimau Malaya player Palmero joined the Cats earlier this week after his 12-month football-related suspension was temporarily lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last month.
Aidil is giving the 24-year-old Palmero time to stretch his legs and get accustomed to his new club, and would rather be patient than rush him for the match today.
“We have to be patient with Palmero because he has just started training with the team on Tuesday, so he has not been with us for long,” said Aidil
“We have to also remember that he has not played competitive football for about four months, so we need to be careful to avoid injuries as well.
“Let him adapt and get comfortable. Things are also different for him in terms of tactics compared to Spain, but his time on the pitch will come.”
Aidil added that the arrival of leftback Palmero will increase the competition among his players, giving him options when it comes to rotating men on the pitch.
“That’s the plan because I don’t want players to get comfortable. They need to keep working hard to get their spot in the line-up.
“But the players have been putting in the effort and know their roles. Palermo can also play as a rightback, and he looks comfortable in that position, so that’s a good sign for the team,” said Aidil.
Palermo is among seven Malaysian mixed-heritage players, including Rodrigo Holgado, Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel, who had their suspensions lifted by CAS.
They had previously been alleged to have submitted doctored documents relating to their eligibility to play for Malaysia.
Palermo had been without a club since his former team, CD Tenerife in Spain, ended his contract in November.
However, the future of the seven players remains to be seen as CAS have fixed Feb 26 for a hearing in Switzerland that will decide their fate on whether the suspensions will be upheld, reduced, or overturned.
Kuching lead 3-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg in Brunei last week.
