NATIONAL team supremo B. Sathianathan today sprang a pleasant surprise by naming France-based Titus James in the squad to take on Chelsea on July 29.

Titus who last attended trials with the national team ahead of the Manila SEA Games in 2005, is expected to come back from his French sojourn next week.

Sathianathan said he was expecting Titus to attend centralised camp upon the national team's return from India.

The Malaysian senior squad depart for Hyderabad on Saturday to play Bob Houghton's India on July 22, exactly a week before the Chelsea game at Shah Alam Stadium.

"Titus' parents told me he was supposed to come back on July 10 but we will continue to wait for him.

"Although there has been little indication that he is attached to any club in France, I want to give him a chance to play for the country.

"Since I took over the Under-23 squad, it has always been my intention to give him a call up but he is committed to attend trials at several French clubs," said Sathianathan at the Press conference to officially kick off the Samsung Chelsea Asia Tour at the Palace of Golden Horses today.

Also present were FA of Malaysia general secretary, Lt Jen (R) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad and tour organiser ProEvents CEO, Julian Kam, and ProEvents international managing director, San Boon Wah.

The former La Salle Brickfields student burst into prominence after he was selected for the Asian Under-12 team to play Barcelona juniors as the curtain raiser for the 1998 World Cup in France.

Titus was then invited to attend trials at Le Havre, where he impressed observers with his ability to keep the ball in the air 1,524 times.

Because of his age, Titus was sent to Le Havre nursery club, Union Sportive Quevillaise in 2000, where he was placed under the care of his foster parents.

He is now playing for a semi-pro outfit, Meaux FC, with the intention of seeking trials with second division sides.

Sathianathan and his assistants Zaki Sheikh Ahmad, Ismail Ibrahim and Mazlan Wahid as well as physical trainer Rustov Bozik have selected 22 others for the India trip.

Nine of them - defenders Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, S. Subramaniam, Daudsu Jamaluddin, Asraruddin Putra Omar, midfielders Azi Shahril Azmi, Amirulhadi Zainal and Ashari Shamsuddin as well as strikers Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak and Khyril Muhymeen Zambri – were part of the Under-23 team that travelled to China last week.

Malaysia is the final leg of the tour for the Blues, where fans will get the chance to watch Luiz Felipe Scolari's star-studded team play Malaysia on July 29.

The match will be broadcast worldwide to countries including England, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Indonesia, China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macau.

Tickets for the match at Shah Alam are on sale at all TicketPro sales outlets and selected adidas outlets nationwide. Tickets are priced at RM33, RM53, RM83 and RM103.

The national senior team:

Goalkeepers: Helmi Eliza Elias, Badrulzaman Abdul Halim; Defenders: S. Subramaniam, Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Fauzie Nan, Daudsu Jamaluddin, Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, Irwan Fadzli Idrus, Asraruddin Putra Omar, Shafizan Hashim; Midfielders: Shukor Adan, Hardi Jaafar, Amirulhadi Zainal, Azi Shahril Azmi, Zairo Anuar Zalani; Forwards: Hairuddin Omar, Safee Sali, Nizaruddin Yusof, Indra Putra Mahayuddin, Ashari Shamsuddin, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri, Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak, Titus James.