Midfielder Ismail Suboh (knee injury) and left-back Rahman Zabul (slipped disc) have yet to kick a ball this season as Super League strugglers Johor FC continue to be bogged by injuries for Saturday's FA Cup second round match against Selangor at the Pasir Gudang Stadium.
Ismail was signed from Johor for the new season while Rahman was signed from Negri Sembilan last year. The 30-year-old Rahman, however, has been a long-time casualty and has not played competitive football since March last year. He is expected to be out for another three months.
Johor FC's two other left-backs - Shafizan Hashim and Khairi Kiman - are also victims of injuries. Shafizan is out for four months after undergoing ACL surgery while Khairi Kiman suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury in Johor FC's 2-1 defeat to Sabah in a league match in Kota Kinabalu last Saturday and is ruled out for at least three weeks.
The list does not stop there with strikers Shahrizal Saad (ankle) and Zamri Chin (calf) and midfielder Eddy Helmi Abdul Manan (knee) also on the injury list but coach K. Devan believes there is a "50-50" chance of them taking the field against Selangor.
They will be given a late fitness test.
Team manager Wan Nizam Wan Omar said the lengthy injury list has taken its toll on the team as Johor FC slipped to 11th place in the standings after the defeat to Sabah.
"It has been tough going for the team. We have the material to challenge for honours but the injuries have affected Johor FC's campaign in the league," said Wan Nizam.
"However, we have not given up hope of moving up the table but right now, our focus is on the FA Cup. A win over Selangor will put us in the quarter-finals... but we are also looking beyond that."
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