Neil Etheridge. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Neil Etheridge and eight others will miss the Philippine Azkals’ campaign in the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers which begin June 3 in Suzhou, China.
As per the Philippine Azkals’ social media accounts, Etheridge won’t be with the team due to surgery. The Fil-British goalkeeper plays for Birmingham City in the English Football League Championship.
Also dealing a huge blow to the Azkals’ bid is the absence of Patrick Strauss, Niko De Vera, Iain Ramsay, Carlie De Murga, Raphael Obermair, Gerrit Holtmann, Lloyd Fagerlie and Jesper Nyholm.
Players out:1 Neil Etheridge -surgery2 Patrick Strauss -injury3 Niko de Vera – family emergency4 Iain Ramsay – travel restrictions5 Carlie De Murga – cant get Chinese visa in time6 Obermair – Begged off 7 Holtmann – PH Passport8 Fagerlie -PH Passport9 Nyholm -PH Passport
— The Philippine Azkals (@TheAzkalsPH) May 29, 2021
To fill the void, the Azkals have called up Kaya FC-Iloilo’s Kenshiro Daniels, United City’s Mike Ott and Azkals Development Team’s Quincy Kammeraad.
Daniels, Ott and Kammeraad as well as Justin Baas, who was also called up earlier this week, joined the rest of the team in their Doha camp on Saturday.
Late callups:MF Kenshiro Daniels @KayaFC MF Mike Ott @UnitedCityFC_PH GK Quincy Kammeraad @azkalsdevteam The three players together with Justin Baas arrived in Doha Saturday for training camp. Team will leave for Shanghai via a Qatar Airways chartered flight on Monday May 31
— The Philippine Azkals (@TheAzkalsPH) May 29, 2021
The Azkals leave for Shanghai on Monday. They play three matches in China beginning with a clash against Guam on Thursday before taking on the host on June 9 and Maldives on June 15.