Striker Supachai Chaided, who received 19 stitches on his eyebrow after his team Buriram United beat Bangkok United 1-0 in a Thai League 1 game on Saturday night, is expected to report to the national training camp for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup in Qatar today.
A total of 17 players reported for encampment yesterday, but midfielder Ekanit Panya pulled out of the national team. He will be replaced by Picha Autra.
The War Elephants have been drawn in Group F for the Asian tournament, which kicks off on Jan 12, and will play Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan and Oman in the tournament.
The War Elephants will start off with a match against Kyrgyzstan on Jan 16. They will play Oman on Jan 21 and take on former champions Saudi Arabia four days later.
Supachai has been recalled for the tournament after being overlooked for the friendly match with Asian giants Japan, which the Thais lost 5-0 in Tokyo on Jan 1.
The lanky striker was tackled by Wisarut Imura during the league match and sustained a head injury.
He continued to play with a bandaged head but was substituted towards the end of the match and was later taken to a hospital where he had 19 stitches to seal the wound on his eyebrow.
The victory -- ensured by an injury-time goal by Goran Causic -- helped Buriram take over second spot in the top flight and trim leaders Bangkok United's lead to four points at the end of the first leg.
Buriram United players celebrate after Goran Causic, centre, scored against Bangkok United. Buriram United
Thailand coach Masatada Ishii said yesterday that he was not aware of the seriousness of Supachai's injury.
"As for Supachai Chaided, who has had 19 stitches on his eyebrow, and Theerathon Bunmathan, who has suffered from food poisoning, we have not received any information," added the Japanese coach.
"Nobody has told the team management that they won't be fit for the Asian Cup, so we are assuming that they will not have any problems.
"It's also a pity that playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin and veteran forward Teerasil Dangda are injured and will not be playing in Qatar.
"The friendly match with Japan made us aware of a number of shortcomings in our team so we need to take care of those problems during the training camp.
"We will have a warm-up game with the Thailand U23 team on Wednesday and that will allow us to check on fitness and form of our players.
"We will try to put on an impressive show in Qatar."