The Bangkok Glass star is among 27 players called for the ongoing camp at the Windmill Football Club before the final 23-man squad is announced on Thursday.

The 25-year-old player admitted there was a competitive atmosphere at the camp as everyone knows four of the probables won’t make it for the trip to the United Arab Emirates. The tournament starts on January 5.

Physical training, he said, is what players had been told to concentrate on.

“The coach thinks we will need a lot of energy for the tournament. So, fitness is very important; we haven’t focused much on the tactical aspects yet,” said Thitiphan, who was a part of the recent AFF Cup team where Thailand, as two-time defending champions, crashed out in the semi-finals on the away-goal rule to Malaysia.

“We made several mistakes in the AFF Cup. The players and the coaching team are well aware of that and we have been working hard to fix them,” said Thitiphan, who has scored only one national goal this season – in a friendly game against Trinidad and Tobago in Suphanburi two months ago.

However , with the return of three other key international players – Thai FA Player of the Year Chanathip Songkrasin, Teerasil Dangda and Teerathon Bunmathan – Thitiphan sees the team getting stronger.

“They will all make up for what he were missing in the AFF Cup. They will make our team more competitive,” he added.

Thailand’s best attempt in the quadrennial Asian event was a third-place finish in 1972 as the host country. The team, in Group A along with hosts UAE, India and Bahrain, is expected to reach the round of 16. Only the top two nations from each of the six groups, plus the four best third-placed teams will reach the second round (16 teams).

“The Asian Cup is a big tournament and all players hope to be a part of it as it’s a dream competition for us. I expect our team to make the cut so that I can help the team pursue our goal,’ he said.

Thailand play India on January 6, Bahrain on January 10 and the UAE on January 14.