Hong Kong striker’s frustration ‘could become long-term issue’, shock call-up for teenager
Hong Kong face the Philippines at Hong Kong Stadium on November 14, before taking on Mauritius at Mong Kok Stadium on November 19
Michael Udebuluzor’s Hong Kong future has been thrown into doubt, with the striker growing increasingly frustrated over his limited playing opportunities under new boss Ashley Westwood.
The 20-year-old went through a protracted nine-month battle to secure his passport last year, but has been benched for six of the team’s past eight games.
And the VfR Mannheim player will miss this month’s games against the Philippines and Mauritius, after a broken arm ruled him out of action for around six weeks.
Udebuluzor’s absence has led to a shock call-up for Matthew Slattery, the 19-year-old Kitchee centre-forward who is yet to figure for his club this season.
A source told the Post, that Udebuluzor, who made his Hong Kong debut in a 10-0 win over Brunei in September last year would “need to consider whether he will be able to attend national team events regularly” if he had fallen down the pecking order.
Udebuluzor, who joined Mannheim from fellow German club Ingolstadt during the summer, last started for Hong Kong in September’s 1-1 draw in Fiji. During last month’s Fifa international window, the first under the charge of new head coach Westwood, he was an unused substitute as Hong Kong went down 1-0 in Liechtenstein, before playing the final 18 minutes of a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Cambodia.
