By Koh Yizhe/Red Sports

The Young Lions face their first international test this Thursday when they take on the Malaysian U-23 team this Thursday at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

With the 2009 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the end of the year in Laos, Coach Terry Pathmanathan has to find a squad that can fly the Singapore flag without embarrassment.

Ten players from the current Young Lions squad playing in the S.League made the cut and Coach Terry has drafted in Isa Halim (Home United), Shaiful Esah (Singapore Armed Forces FC) and three more players from the National Under-18 side.

The Young Lions will go into the match without a win in their last six matches in the S.League. They also suffered two defeats last week, including a demoralizing 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Super Reds.

When the Young Lions got knocked out 0-2 by Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown (CAM) in the first round of the Singapore Cup, coach Terry Pathmanathan wasn’t a happy man.

"The Young Lions’ performance was disappointing and it was plain rubbish. The players lack the technical ability and can't even do simple things like pass or stop the ball. Each time we venture forward, we either knock the ball out, or give it straight back to the opponent. They are simply not up to that competitive level, and it's not like only three or four players who can't make it, more than half the team is bad."

"There wasn't any bite and it was a pathetic performance. They call themselves strikers, midfielder and defenders, but they don't know their roles."

"I took up coaching this team as a challenge, to groom young players and grant them exposure. But at this point of time, I'll have to look out for better ones. The next window will be in June and I will find other alternatives."

When asked about the 2009 SEA games in December, he said then: "I don't think any players will play then. I will have to find alternatives because individually, the quality is missing."

This game against Malaysia will be the first opportunity this year to see what Singapore-born talents can do against international opposition.

Game Details
Jalan Besar Stadium
Day and Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009
Game Time: 7.30pm.
The full 18-men squad is listed below.

Izwan Mahbud (GK, Young Lions)
Jasper Chan (GK, Young Lions)
Irwan Shah (DF, Young Lions)
Afiq Yunos (DF, Young Lions)
Hamqaamal Shah (DF, Young Lions)
Azfar Zainal Abidin (DF, Young Lions)
Fairoz Hasan (FW, Young Lions)
Hariss Harun (MF, Young Lions)
Fadhil Noh (FW, Young Lions)
Goh Swee Swee (MF, Young Lions)
Isa Halim (DF/MF, Home United)
Shahdan Sulaiman (MF, Home United)
Shaiful Esah (DF, SAFFC)
Haniff Ja’ffar Sadique (FW, Gombak United)
Yasir Hanapi (MF, Geylang United)
Safuwan Baharudin (DF, National U-18)
Nazrul Ahmad Nazari (MF, National U-18)
Khalili D’Cruz (FW, National U-18)