The Mahindra United coach, Derrick Pereira, for the first time will be spoilt for choices with his best players at his disposal in their seventh round I-League encounter against East Bengal at the Cooperage tomorrow.NP Pradeep seems to have come out of injury right in the nick of time. Pereira is convinced that Pradeep will make a difference. Also Mahindra United’s veteran striker Yusif Yakubu is fighting fit. He had twisted his ankle during the JCT encounter. Pereira has to decide between Mohammed Rafi and Sushil Kumar to partner Yakubu upfront. He has rested Andrews Mensah for the match. “We wanted Bello Rasaq in defence and Douhou Pierre in the midfield which leaves no place for Mensah,” he said.Pereira has also decided to rest Harpreet Singh or K Ajayan to make way for Pradeep into the team. While the Mahindra United coach is keen to get three points tomorrow, East Bengal coach Subrata Bhattarcharya said he will be satisfied with one point. He is worried about his key players — Edmilson Pardal, Alvito D’Cunha and Syed Rahim Nabi. All of them are carrying niggling injuries.Bhattacharya is hopeful that skipper M Suresh will come good. East Bengal are battling injuries and the coach is more concerned with the upcoming derby against Mohun Bagan in Kolkata. It will be the right time for Mahindra to get back to winning ways.
