The 33-year-old Sun retired after China lost to Canada in the World Cup quarter-finals in 2003, but was recalled into the"Rose of Iron" two months ago by Ma.

Sun's comeback stirred up a huge controversy in Chinese football as she seemed hard to regain fitness after a two-year hiatus off the game.

Ma left no stone unturned to defend for Sun."She is still the best player in China, and so I should call her back into the national team."

"The national team should gather the best players, and it is not a place to groom young promising players," he said.

"Indeed I also gave the young players a lot of chances to grow up, Ma Xiaoxu who was born in 1988 is an example. Sun's presence never deprives the young striker's chance," he said.

Ma Xiaoxu, a burly and chunky player, started with another established striker Han Duan up front in the opening game against the United States of the Algarve Women's football competition, butwas substituted by Sun in the 50th mintue.

Sun, who injured her right leg minutes after coming on, hardly made her presence felt in the game and hobbled off the pitch with five minutes to go.

"Unfortunately I got injured minutes after replacing Ma Xiaoxu," Sun said.

"Then I wanted to beckon the coach to take me off, but it was too embarrassing as I was in the pitch for only several minutes asa substitute, so I chose to carry on."

When asked when she could regain fitness and become as good as 1999 when she was voted as the FIFA world footballer, she said:"I never spend time thinking about this question. What I need is timeand more game plays to get myself to be match fit." Enditem