PETALING JAYA: Selangor goalkeeper Samuel Somerville is hoping for more playing minutes to help increase his chances to earn a call-up to the national team.
The Malaysia-England heritage player admitted his chances of being in the Harimau Malaya list are quite difficult given that he only made two appearances with the Red Giants squad this season.
Somerville, who is also known as Sam, is always trying to improve the quality of his performance so that Selangor coach Tan Cheng Hoe will list him more often in the starting line-up.
“It is difficult for me to maintain my performance when I rarely play but I will do my best when the coach needs me,” he said.
“Of course I want to play and I work hard in training but it’s up to the coach who will be fielded.
“The chances of being selected for the national squad will only be judged on the minutes played at the club level and I don’t expect to be on the list unless I play at the best level at the club.
“That’s the most important thing and it’s not easy when you don’t play because training is different from playing minutes,” he said.
The 28-year-old featured between the posts when Selangor beat Kuching City 2-1 in a Super League match at the Petaling Jaya City Stadium on Monday.
Somerville was glad to help his team get three points but was still disappointed because he failed to kept a clean sheet after conceding a goal in the last minute of the match.
“I hope to play in as many games as I can as I am now 28 years old and approaching my peak as a goalkeeper.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future but I really want to get playing minutes,” said Somerville, who played for Penang when they won the Premier League in 2020.
