The national team suffered another defeat on Saturday, their fifth in six matches, this time to Super League side Selangor but coach K. Rajagobal is not hitting the panic button yet.
Rajagobal explained that the match was a good test for his players, especially the new faces.
"Except for a few, others looked tired. They tried to play possession football but goals were not coming," said Rajagobal.
"Selangor played really well today (Saturday). I was impressed with their centreback Nasriq Baharum, who I felt was the best man on the field."
The team, in the absence of seven key players, were beaten 1-0 by Selangor thanks to Rudie Ramli's 64th minute strike at the Shah Alam Stadium.
The seven - goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat; defenders Mahalli Jasuli, Muslim Ahmad and Fadhli Shas; midfielder K. Gurusamy; and strikers Ahmad Fakri Saarani and Izzaq Faris Ramlan - are with their national Under-23 counterparts in Slovakia.
Their absence, however, allowed Rajagobal to test all 24 trainees in the match.
The most notable player making his return to the side was defender Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, who played alongside Rizal Fahmi in the centre.
Kuala Lumpur goalkeeper Norazlan Razali and Terengganu's Joseph Kalang Tie, both uncapped, were brought in as substitutes in the second half.
Rajagobal noted that goalkeeper Farizal Marlias and midfielder Khyril Muhymeen Zambri were among the best performers on Saturday.
"Both players did well but as for Norhafiz, he needs more time to adapt to international football after a long absence," he said.
On the team's bad patch of late, Rajagobal said his objective is to prepare the team for the 2015 Asian Cup.
"I still have faith in these players. However, I will continue to scout for new ones in local competitions.
"Next month's Malaysia Cup will give me the opportunity to identify players for the national team," he said.
The national trainees, who reported for a 13-day camp last week, were supposed to play Oman and Indonesia but both friendlies were cancelled.
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