SINGAPORE — New Home United signing M Anumanthan could receive his baptism of fire in the club’s biggest game of the season, the AFC Cup Asean Zonal final.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who is serving National Service, joined the Protectors from Hougang United in the mid-season transfer window and is awaiting clearance from the Singapore Civil Defence Force to make his debut.

Home have registered Anumanthan for both their S.League and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup squads, and head coach Aidil Sharin is hopeful he can feature in tonight’s final first-leg tie against Ceres-Negros FC of the Philippines.

“We have already done everything for him, it’s just a matter of getting the clearance,” he told TODAY.

Anumanthan is not getting his hopes up yet, but believes he is ready to play in continental competition for the first time in his career.

“Playing in big games is what footballers play and live for,” he told TODAY. “If I get the opportunity, I will take it with both hands.”

However, the Singapore international, who has been capped 14 times, has not made any competitive appearances since he enlisted in April. His last game was for Hougang in a 0-2 loss to Home on April 9.

But Mr Aidil is confident last season’s Young Player of the Year will be an asset, even with the depth in his squad, as the club challenges on three fronts this season. “He will bring better defensive stability, which is what we are lacking now, given the goals we have conceded this year,” he said.

“Looking at the games we are going to play, even though we have Song Ui-young, Izzdin Shafiq, Aqhari Abdullah and Hariss Harun in midfield, with (the possibility of) injuries coming along, every player, including Anu, will play a big part.”

Anumanthan, who joined Hougang at the start of 2016 and racked up 92 starts in 96 appearances across all competitions, paid tribute to his former employers and their hardcore fans, the Hougang Hools. “Hougang will always be special to me, since it was the first professional S.League club I played for,” Anumanthan said.

“I will forever be grateful for the opportunity and support I received there.”

The Protectors will be boosted by the availability of goalkeeper Hassan Sunny and centre-back Irfan Fandi. Hassan had required 13 stitches for a gash below his eye after clashing with an opponent last Tuesday during a 1-1 draw with Warriors FC, while Irfan was taken off after appearing to be in a daze during the same game and was subsequently warded.

Ceres are unbeaten in their past 18 home matches, of which they have won 15, and Mr Aidil hopes his charges can take a solid lead to Bacalod City for the second-leg tie on Aug 9.

“If we don’t get a result, it’s going to be difficult to motivate the team to go there,” he said.

“Ceres is not very strong away based on their domestic league results, with four points from their past four games, and we have to capitalise.”

*The game will kick off at 7.30pm at Jalan Besar Stadium tonight. It will be broadcast “live” on Fox Sports from 7pm onwards.