With Chan Ze Han's untimely calf surgery having left a huge hole up front, it nevertheless also provided an opening for an academy kid done well to return, as Tian Yonghang welcomed former Chicken Wings trainee Phua Ming Xin back, for S$4.7 million. Although his free transfer to local H.A.L seventh divisioners Tempo Determinato F.C. was regarded as lower-profile than might have been expected, the Holland Village club did well by him, and eventually moved him on to Swiss Division Four side FK Fortschritt Schnaus for three million.

Phua enjoyed something of a breakout season with them, with a modest haul of seven goals belying much excellent off-the-ball work, and he would leave with a goal in his final match for Schnaus, a clean finish off a through pass for the fourth in a 5-0 crushing of A.C. Luzern Spartans in the cup. This earned him a surprise national youth team call-up for a friendly against Bénin, and while Mairania FC's Jordan Han Tong stole the show with a hat-trick in the 4-4 draw, Phua would be the provider for the first of those.

Belgian head coach Gerben Waegemaeckers had already recruited 19 year-old Pedro Enrique Villafañe in a sign that Phua was considered disposable at Schnaus, though, and there was no sweeter message for Tian when he got word. "Phua has done extremely well for himself, all through his own initiative, and he's a standup fellow on top of all that too." the Birds boss said. "The Number Nine jersey looks good on him, and we all think he will do right by it."

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