KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian mixed-race footballers, based overseas, are increasingly making a name for themselves on the international stage - even breaking into the first team of top clubs.
The latest is Malaysian-English player, Ethan Wheatley, who has started training with the first team of Manchester United.
Information from the Frfuturetalents website shows that the 18-year-old has caught the attention of head coach Erik Ten Hag.
The Stockport-born player is a key figure in the Under-18 squad of Manchester United. He scored five goals in six matches in the 2023/2024 Under-18 Premier League.
Wheatley, who has Malaysian blood through his grandmother from Selangor, said on Frfuturetalents' website: "My grandmother was born and raised in Selangor. However, she moved to England at a young age. When I was young, our family often vacationed in Kuala Lumpur."
Wheatley has yet to turn out for the Manchester United first team, but he has the potential to make the breakthrough in the near future.
The teenager's versatility upfront could be a boost for the Malaysian national team if he chooses to don the Harimau Malaya shirt.
Meanwhile, Dutch-born striker Ferdy Druijf has expressed his desire to play for the Malaysian national team.
This was shared by the player through Frfuturetalents. The 1.90m striker is said to be in the process of preparing documents to prove that his grandmother was born in Malaysia.
"I have the desire to play for Malaysia, but for now, I am preparing documents to prove that my grandmother was born in Malaysia," shared Ferdy.