The national team will take on Mongolia in an international friendly match that will be played for the first time at Bukit Jalil National Stadium since it was refurbished before flying off to play Lebanon in the final group match of the 2019 Asian Cup qualification.

Tan who was installed as the head coach after Eduardo ‘Nelo’ Vingada resigned following poor results in the said qualification matches that has seen Malaysia failing to qualify for the 2019 Asian Cup, has given a first time call-up to several players including 32-year-old Natxo Insa.

The JDT midfielder has shown his quality since moving over from Levante and will be joining his brother Kiko in the team, the latter has previously featured for the national team in prior matches against Hong Kong and DPR Korea.

Super League debutant La’Vere Corbin-Ong has also been included in the squad, after shining for JDT and taking over Fazly Mazlan’s place in the preferred starting line-up for the Malaysian champions.

The Malaysia Under-23 success at reaching the quarterfinal stage of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship has also seen some of Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s charges being promoted to the senior team, 

Another suprising inclusion is Sabah’s captain Rawilson Batuil who has led his side to a current second position in the Premier League, making him the only player from the second division that has been called-up.

Those that missed out includes Perak’s defensive duo, Nazirul Naim and Khairul Azhan. It was also no surprise that Syamer Kutty Abba has been left out, having thus far failed to make a single appearance for Vilaverdense FC since moving over to the Portuguese third division.

Squad in full:

Goalkeeper: Haziq Nadzli (JDT), Hafizul Hakim (Perak), Khairul Fahmi (Kelantan)

Defender: Shahrul Saad (Perak), Kiki Insa (Bangkok Glass), Rawilson Batuil (Sabah), Matthew Davies (Pahang), La’Vere Corbin-Ong (JDT), Fazly Mazlan (JDT), Fadhli Shas (JDT), Adam Nor Azlin (JDT), S. Kunanlan (JDT), Irfan Zakaria (Kuala Lumpur), Ariff Farhan (Kedah)

Midfield: Safiq Rahim (JDT), Nazmi Faiz (JDT), Afiq Fazail (JDT), Natxo Insa (JDT), Akram Mahinan (Kedah), Syazwan Andik (Kuala Lumpur), Nor Azam Azih (Pahang), Wan Zack Haikal (Felda United), Mahalli Jasuli (PKNS FC), Syahmi Safari (Selangor)

Forward: Syafiq Ahmad (JDT), Darren Lok (JDT), Safawi Rasid (JDT), Hazwan Bakri (JDT), Akhyar Rashid (Kedah),