Penang head coach Akmal Rizal Rakhli said that the 26-year-old Brazilian is likely to be in the starting line-up, but the team is still monitoring his performance and fitness level since he has only been training for a week.

However, Akmal is confident that Oliveira, given his experience with several professional clubs in Brazil, including Santos, will quickly adapt to the team like the rest of the imports, namely Rodrigo Dias, Rafael Vitor and Richmond Ankrah, who is on loan from Selangor.

“Rafael Vitor, Richmond, and also (Rodrigo) Dias have been with the team for over a month, so they are already in sync with each other, but Neto (Oliveira) only joined last week. He may need some time to adapt,” he said.

According to the coach, the addition of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) player Syamer Kutty Abba, who has joined the team on loan this season, has had a significant impact on the entire Panthers squad.

“He has brought along his experience at JDT and with the national team. Additionally, his presence on the pitch helps the team greatly. He just lifts everybody up,” he said.

Oliveira joined the Panthers on April 27 after honing his skills as an attacking midfielder with the likes of Flamengo, Sao Jose, Gremio Osasco and Portuguesa Santista.

Meanwhile Syamer, a Penang native who previously wore the Panthers jersey in 2016 and 2017 before joining JDT in 2018, returned to Penang last month.

Penang finished 10th in the Super League last season and reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, as well as the semifinals of the Challenge Cup.