PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s naturalised midfielder Endrick dos Santos (pic) is ready to make his debut for Star City against Selangor in the FA Cup quarter-final second leg at the Petaling Jaya Stadium today after months out due to injury.
And the Brazilian-born Dos Santos is not affected by talks of him needing more time to adapt and find his touch after a long layoff.
The 31-year-old said that he had been following the team’s training sessions and matches closely even when he was recovering from a medial collateral ligament injury suffered during the Asean Hyundai Cup in June.
“Even while I was injured, I closely observed the training sessions and matches, and I thought about where I could help once I returned,’’ said Dos Santos, who joined Star City during the August transfer window.
“I also know most of the players and was always in contact with the coach and the coaching staff,” he said.
The task awaiting him and Star City, however, is daunting as they have a 1-4 first-leg deficit to overturn.
But Dos Santos is not to writing off their chances of bouncing back.
“Everything can change in a matter of seconds, for better or worse, so the important thing is that we are prepared as a team for any situation.”
He is expected to operate as the team’s creative midfielder, tasked with feeding the strikers and wingers.
Dos Santos can also count on the support of his midfield partners – Bahraini international Moses Atede and Brazilian hardman Pedro Santos.
“I have intelligent players like Moses, who has the characteristics I appreciate – he controls the game and tries to ensure the team attack in an organised way.”
