Ingolstadt II striker Udebuluzor could make Hong Kong debut against Brunei, Andersen says

According to Andersen, the identity of their opponents during this Fifa fixture window was chosen entirely with next month’s decisive World Cup play-off against Bhutan in mind.

He said Lee Man powerhouse Everton, who received his Hong Kong passport last week, would add “quality and speed”, coupled with a proven nose for goal, to a gun-shy attack.

Andersen revealed forward Matt Orr would play in Cambodia before returning to the mainland for club commitments with Guangxi Pingguo Haliao. The 26-year-old will, however, play as one of three overage selections for Hong Kong’s Asian Games campaign this month.

Andersen has nevertheless been denied the services of Chinese Super League pair Vas Nunez and Leung Nok-hang for the tournament in Hangzhou. He has instead called up BC Rangers’ 28-year-old defender Li Ngai-hoi, and Robbie Wu Chun-ming, the 25-year-old midfielder from Lee Man.

More immediately, the Norwegian is looking forward to the prospect of having a Hong Kong team with Everton and Udebuluzor at its sharp end.

“I hope he [Udebuluzor] can come in this window,” Andersen said. “The match in Cambodia is too soon, but we hope he can get the passport this week and play on Monday. He has speed and power and a good finish.

“Matt’s club are in a good situation in the league and asked if he could play only one friendly match, then go back for their next fixture [on Wednesday 13 September].

“It is so important Michael can get the passport this week and take his position on Monday.”

Udebuluzor has scored his goals at a rate of one per match from eight appearances for German club Ingolstadt II this season.

Brazil-born Everton, 32, meanwhile, has netted twice in three matches for Lee Man after registering a joint-high 17 Hong Kong Premier League goals last season.

“He [Everton] will bring more quality and speed in the front line, he is a player more dangerous in front of the goal,” Andersen said. “I don’t want to put him under pressure but we need his quality. He has to get used to the team and they have to get used to him.

“We chose to play opposition of the same quality as Bhutan in the next two games – to be used to attacking and winning again, to give us confidence for our most important matches before the Asian Cup [in January].”

Former Kitchee attacker Orr has 13 goals from 19 matches for Guangxi this season. His 13 Hong Kong appearances to date have yielded a comparatively miserly three goals.

Andersen claimed it was “difficult to say” if his new forward additions would help Orr transfer his club form to the international stage.

“I have seen many players score a lot for clubs but not for the national team,” Andersen said. “It is a higher level, especially against some of the better teams, like Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and Korea.

“I hope with him it is another start. And that as a team we can start again in these next two matches to score goals and win games.”

With the Asian Games, World Cup qualifiers and AFC Asian Cup all looming, Andersen is facing one the busiest periods of his 22-year coach career, but he dismissed suggestions that the addition of two strikers would increase the expectations and pressure on him and the team.

“I don’t have this feeling of pressure,” he said. “I am very happy and I think Hong Kong people are very happy that we can improve, have a stronger team and start to compete with better opponents.”

Andersen additionally revealed moves were under way to secure a passport for Brazil-born Kitchee striker Juninho, who reached his seven-year residency this month.

“Two or three more names want to take the passport, then we can see what happens,” Andersen said. “If we can get more quality up front that adds quality all around the team, then we will achieve better results.”

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