PETALING JAYA: Young Selangor midfielder Nooa Laine (pic) won’t expect a smooth lane for him to drive his way into national football team coach Kim Pan-gon’s 25-men squad for the World Cup 2026-Asian Cup 2027 second round qualifiers against Oman.

The 21-year-old has his work cut out as he has to compete with the more seasoned likes of Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi, Brendan Gan, Paulo Josue, Endrick dos Santos, Stuart Wilkin and Syamer Kutty Abba for the coveted spot.