The Philippine Azkals is going to take on Uzbekistan tomorrow in the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup combined qualifier but without the expertise of Stephan Schrock and Phil Younghusband.

Stephan Schrock / Phil Younghusband

The Azkals departed for Tashkent last Saturday without the presense of two important players. Younghusband continues to be struggling to get over a knee issue, whereas Schrock hasn’t totally healed from the leg injury suffered while playing for Ceres La Salle in the AFC Cup recently.

Schrock and Younghusband absence has included to the difficulties of coach Thomas Dooley, who’s currently without suspended winger Misagh Bahadoran as well as midfielder Manny Ott, and who has seen veterans Rob Gier, Paul Mulders and also Jerry Lucena retire from international football lately.

It has, on the other hand, introduced Dooley with an opportunity to field much younger players, including OJ Porteria, Kenshiro Daniels and Dominic del Rosario.

The Philippine Azkals likewise currently have a good amount of experience to call upon, which includes foreign-based players just like Henan Jianye striker Javier Patino, Tractorsazi Tabriz midfielder Iain Ramsay and also Walsall goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.

Right after their trip to the Bunyodkor Stadium, the Azkals will host DPR Korea on March 29, in which they’ll be looking to hold off Bahrain and wrap up third to be able to move forward straight into the AFC Asian Cup qualifying third round.