Two Thai stars have made the Fox Sports' lists of midfielders and defenders to watch at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, which gets underway on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates.
Thailand's crafty playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin and versatile defender Theerathon Bunmathan made the six-man lists published on the broadcaster's website yesterday.
The War Elephants kick off their first round campaign on Sunday when they take on India. The other two sides in Group A are Bahrain and the UAE.
Both Chanathip and Theerathon, along with skipper Teerasil Dandga, missed the last month's Suzuki Cup. Thailand failed to retain their Southeast Asian crown after bowing out to Malaysia on away goals rule in the semi-finals.
Having been named in the J1 League's Best XI following his first full season with Consadole Sapporo, the 25-year-old Chanathip is now on the verge of establishing himself as one of the best players not just in Southeast Asia, but the entire continent.
Even in the third round of qualifiers for the 2018 Fifa World Cup, Chanathip, nicknamed "Messi Jay" by the Thai fans, showed he has what it takes to carve apart even the best defences in Asia and should thrive in the spotlight in the UAE.
Theerathon, following a season-long loan spell in Japan with Vissel Kobe where he got to rub shoulders with the likes of Spain's Andres Iniesta and former Germany star Lukas Podolski, will have the perfect stage in the UAE to show how much he has learned.
According to Fox Sports, the 28-year-old Theerathon has never lacked in playing ability but has really matured in the past few years. He is likely to offer vital experience to a War Elephants side that severely lacked that at their semi-final exit from Suzuki Cup.
His ball-playing ability has also seen him fielded in the centre of the park before and, with Korrakot Wiriyaudomsiri impressing as his deputy in the past, Theerathon could just be deployed further up the field by coach Milovan Rajevac.
Korrakot, meanwhile, has said he does not see Theerathon as a threat to his place in the Thai team.
"We can play together and complement each other in the team," Korrakot said yesterday.
The reports emerging from the Thai camp suggest that Rajevac is likely to assign a central role in the midfield to Theerathon and deploy Korrakot on the left wing.
Meanwhile, Australia winger Martin Boyle has been ruled out of the event due to a left knee injury, it was announced on Tuesday.
