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 (SCDF) 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 Wednesday night’s (Aug 2) 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,” said Aidil.

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 said. “If I get the opportunity, I will take it with both hands and it will be exciting to play against another country’s team in a final.

“It will be my first time representing a club in a competition like this and I hope to experience what it will be like.”

However, the Singapore international, who has been capped 14 times, has not made any competitive appearances since early April as the SCDF has not given him clearance after he enlisted in the same month. Anumanthan’s last game was for Hougang in a 0-2 loss to Home on April 9.

But Aidil is an admirer of the midfielder’s qualities and is confident last season’s Young Player of the Year award winner will be an asset, even with the depth of players he already has at his disposal, 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 explained. 

“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 started his career in 2012 with the Young Lions before joining Hougang at the start of 2016, has since racked up 92 starts in 96 appearances across all competitions. The Cheetahs fan favourite paid tribute to his former employers and their hardcore supporters’ club, the Hougang Hools.

“Hougang will always be special to me since it was the first professional S.League club I played for,” he said. “I will forever be grateful for the opportunities 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 to close up a gash below his eye after clashing with an opponent last Tuesday (July 25) 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.

Aidil said both will feature from the start tonight at Jalan Besar Stadium, though midfielder Song is a big doubt and winger Christopher Van Huizen is out.

Ceres are unbeaten in their last 18 home matches, of which they have won 15, and Aidil hopes his charges can bring a solid lead to the second-leg tie on August 9, away in Bacalod City.

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

"Ceres is strong at home but not very strong away based on (their) domestic league (results, with four points from last four games) and we have to capitalise.  We need to be at 100 per cent and also have a bit of luck to beat them.”

The AFC Cup Asean Zonal Final first leg will kick off at 7.30p.m. at Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday night (Aug 2). It will be broadcast “live” on Fox Sports from 7pm onwards.