LIONS ON HITMEN HUNT

Striker's position up for grabs, with Fandi brothers set to miss AFF Championship

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Deprived of two sharpshooters, the Lions have their work cut out as the Dec 8-Jan 5 Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup looms.

They have only two international friendlies left - against Myanmar on Nov 14 and Chinese Taipei four days later - to find a solution to the likely absence of the Fandi brothers, Ikhsan and Ilhan, during the biennial tournament.

The striking pair, who play for Thai side BG Pathum United, are not in the current Lions squad as overseas players who have not confirmed their release for the biennial tournament - also known as the Asean Football Federation Championship - were not called up.

The forwards in the 26-man squad are BG Tampines Rovers' Taufik Suparno and Faris Ramli and the Lion City Sailors' Abdul Rasaq Akeem and Shawal Anuar.

Senior defender Safuwan Baharudin, who is one of only four players in this squad to have reached double figures in goals for the national team - alongside Hariss Harun (11), Faris (13) and Shawal (11) - admitted that there is a "huge hole" to fill up front, especially as the 1.84m Ikhsan and 1.83m Ilhan are also aerial threats.