DPMM FC defender Reduan Petara looks set to make his first start of the season alongside defensive bedrocks Brian McLean and Rosmin Kamis in the S League match against Hougang United FC as the race for third heats up at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore tonight.

The central defender's inclusion to the starting line-up means that Abdul Aziz Tamit may be consigned to the bench such is the healthy competition for places.

The former Indera SC defender earned a recall to the first team following suspension for Yura Indera Putera who collected his fourth booking of the season in the Warriors triumph.

"They gave me a lot of good problems because during the week when they train if somebody's injured or suspended, then it is a fight who's going to get the place in the first team," Kean said in an interview with the media after a training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium on Wednesday.

The lanky Abdul Aziz has been the obvious chance to be drafted into a central defensive role in the absence of Yura Indera Putera or the latter if being selected as cover in the bench.

Head coach Steve Kean has also hinted midfielder Aminuddin Zakwan Tahir will also be starting the game in place of Awangku Fakharazzi after impressing off the bench in the 3-0 win against Warriors last week.

The midfielder is poised to make only his third start this season after featuring in the 3-1 win over Balestier Khalsa in April and the 4-3 defeat to Tampines Rovers in June.

Kean lauded Fakharazzi's efforts after gaining playing minutes but was impressed with Aminuddin's sudden impact after assisting Paulo Sergio with a cutback which led to the third goal.

 "Fakha done really well but I thought Amin was excellent. He waited and he's been patient to get his chance and I've thought when he come on he was excellent. He would start as well," Kean said.

Kean added that the breakthrough rookie faces stern competition not only from Helmi Zambin who missed out on the Warriors match but also Awangku Fakharazzi highlighting the fierce competition in that department.

The local attackers are also not safe from omission as an array of talents including Adi Said, Shahrazen Said and Azwan Ali Rahman are all competing one of the spots in the wide areas.

Meanwhile, DPMM FC winger Azwan Ali was rested from training duties as a precautionary measure from a niggling groin injury despite the player interested to shrug off the discomfort by joining in with his team-mates.

The winger is currently racing for fitness ahead of the league match against Hougang who looks to swap positions with DPMM FC in third.

Kean recognises the difficulty against decent opposition and will be wary of the threat of Japanese midfielder Fumiya Kogure who had been an exciting acquisition from Albirex Niigata (S).

"They've got good players and they've got a belief about them. They think they can win and the reaction against the Tampines game you'd think they've won the league."

"They've really got a good spirit about them so it will be a tough match but we're glad it's at Jalan Besar," he continued.

The head coach has previously expressed his profound admiration of playing at the Jalan Besar Stadium which has been likened as DPMM FC's second home ground due to its favourable playing surface.

"It's been a good ground for us and it lets us play our football and I'm sure they'll be wary and cautious of playing us because of the form that we're in."

"When we're in Singapore leading up to any match we never train anywhere else apart from Jalan Besar so it's almost like a second home to us."

Kean has been a firm favourite of the ground partially after a good record in the last three seasons under his guidance.

"Over the last three years, there has been very few games that we've lost there," he added.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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