Indian football team’s preparations for the upcoming friendly against Malaysia faced an unprecedented setback due to injuries of Anirudh Thapa and forward Vikram Pratap Singh on Monday. 

The chief national coach Manolo Marquez has called up Odisha FC midfielder Thoiba Singh to join the national camp starting today in Hyderabad. 

The Spaniard is hoping that the 21-year-old repays his faith in kind as they prepare themselves for their forthcoming encounter against Malaysia on 18th November. 

Despite the injuries, Marquez has selected a pretty solid squad for the upcoming game against Malaysia. The squad has a good mix of vibrant young players and experienced campaigners. Veteran players will be looking forward to the opportunity of mentoring their young counterparts in the senior team set-up.

The game against Malaysia offers Marquez an essential testing ground, to gauge his team's progress while also experimenting with how they function as a unit. They will be facing a Malaysia side, known for their physical strength and organized style of play. 

It will also allow the Spaniard to see how new players like Thoiba Singh, Vibin Mohanan, and Jithin MS perform under the bright lights. It will be an important opportunity for the youngsters to prove themselves on an international platform. They will be keen for the Malaysia challenge and ready to make a mark and record their first win this year.