Chanathip to be fit for key battles
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Chanathip to be fit for key battles

Chanathip Songkrasin is recovering from an injury sustained during a Thai League 1 game on Sunday.
Chanathip Songkrasin is recovering from an injury sustained during a Thai League 1 game on Sunday.

Doctors have given crafty playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin a go-head signal to make himself available to the national football team coach Masatada Ishii for the War Elephants' two remaining 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

Thailand, who are still in the running to make the third and final stage of the Asian qualifying tournament from Group C, take on China away on June 6 and hosts Singapore five days later.

The national team will start training for the two games on Wednesday.

Chanathip was injured while representing BG Prathum United in their last game of Thai League 1 against Police Tero on Sunday.

Chanathip left the field in pain in the 56th minute of the match. Moving from the left to the right inside the box, he attempted a left-footed shot at the goal only to suffer a groin injury.

Initial reports suggested that the experienced midfielder might have to withdraw from the national squad.

However, Pathum United arranged an MRI scan for the star playmaker which ruled out any serious injury.

Doctors said the scan only revealed minor inflammation which is expected to heal in time for Thailand's first game against China.

Meanwhile, two other players -- Bordin Phala and Sasalak Haiprakhon -- have been forced to pull out of the Thai national team after sustaining injuries on Sunday.

Bordin has been replaced by Chonburi midfielder Channarong Promsrikaew and Lamphun's Chaiyawat Buran has been called up in place of Sasalak.

The national team players will train in Rangsit area before departing for the June 6 game against China at Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

The match will be televised live by Thai Rath TV (32), starting 7pm (Thai time).

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