Soccer-Banned Singapore striker remains in national picture

BANGKOK, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Singapore's coach has not ruled out selecting feisty forward Noh Alam Shah, despite his one-year domestic ban for a frenzied attack on a national team mate.

Radojko Avramovic said he would make a decision on whether to play Alam Shah, one of Asia's most prolific strikers, after he recovered from an ankle operation.

"At this moment, he will have surgery, after that, we have to take things step by step with him," the Serbian told Reuters on Monday.

"We will make a decision on whether we will play him when he is fit again."

During last month's Singapore Cup final, the Tampines Rovers striker kneed and elbowed Singapore Armed Forces defender Daniel Bennett in the chest before kneeing him in the back of the head as he lay on the floor grimacing in pain.

Although he received a one-year domestic ban, Singapore's soccer federation said he would still be eligible for national team games.

Singapore have reached the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, drawn in Group Four with Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia.

Former Singapore captain Fandi Ahmad last week said he may throw Alam Shah a lifeline by signing him for Pelita Jaya, the Indonesian club he now coaches.

Alam Shah, 27, is as famous for his fiery temperament and aggressive on-field antics as he is his goal-scoring ability.

He won the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player awards at this year's ASEAN soccer championships after scoring 10 goals, including seven in one match. (Reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by John O'Brien)