English-born Darren Lok joins JDT II, eyes chance with Malaysia

English-born Darren Lok joins JDT II, eyes chance with Malaysia

English-born striker Darren Lok has joined Johor Darul Ta'zim II.

English-born Darren Lok has the potential to play international football for Malaysia, according to Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) sports director Alistair Edwards.

The 25-year-old former non-league striker has signed with JDT II in the Premier League and is eligible for national selection because of his Malacca-born father.

Harimau Malaysia head coach Ong Kim Swee considered drafting Lok into the squad for this month's AFC Asian Cup playoff against Timor-Leste and the subsequent tour of Oceania but he was unable to get his new passport in time.

However, now the way has been cleared for the former attacker from sixth-tier Conference South League side Eastbourne Borough to play for the 2011 Suzuki Cup champions.

"Darren is a player who is very mobile, quick and has an eye for goal," Edwards told ESPN FC.

"The idea is for him to acclimatise and adapt to Malaysian football with JDT II and then, depending on his progress, move up to play with JDT in the 2017 Super League season.

"Regarding international football, it is a hard call to make at this stage but from what we've seen so far I see the potential and coach Dato Ong Kim Swee and Brad Maloney are speaking to me often asking the same question."

Lok, who joins JDT II for the Malaysia Cup campaign alongside Brazilian centre-back Rafael Jesus Bonfim, could potentially feature for Malaysia in upcoming friendlies against Indonesia in September and Singapore in October.

He has been training within the JDT setup since May and was invited to join first team sessions by head coach Mario Gomez.

"I am delighted to be joining this club in my short time here. I can already tell what a great club this is with great fans," Darren Lok said on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page.

Lok, who joins JDT II for the Malaysia Cup campaign alongside Brazilian centre-back Rafael Jesus Bonfim, could potentially feature for Malaysia in upcoming friendlies against Indonesia in September and Singapore in October.

Junior Eldstal, another former English non-league player, rose from JDT to an important member of the national team after moving to Malaysia in 2013.