Sport - Football

Injuries to key players worry Mohun Bagan, East Bengal

KOLKATA: Injuries to key players worry Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, the two former champions, eyeing to regain the I-League football title.

With the premier club football league entering the second round, the two sides, especially Mohun Bagan, are mulling over a growing list of injuries.

Baichung Bhutia of Mohun Bagan has been ruled out for at least three weeks after sustaining a calf-muscle injury during practice. Bhutia’s injury is not the lone worry for Bagan.

There are three more names from the regular eleven who are likely to sit out of some of the upcoming matches.

Among those injured are defenders Dipak Mondal and Habibur Rahman Mondal and goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee. Mohun Bagan plays its second round match against Air India on Friday evening.

The East Bengal camp, tending to injuries to four of its players, bears a similar look. The team lost to Mumbai FC. The absence of three midfielders — Alvito D’Cunha, Jayanta Sen, Dharamjit Singh and defender M. Suresh — who have been ruled out indefinitely is cited as the cause for the defeat.

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