Chhetri to sit out of India’s match against Iraq

The ankle injury to Chhetri during practice at Dubai’s Al Wasl club ground was a blow to the Indians as regular captain and star striker Bhaichung Bhutia is also yet to regain his full fitness.

Bhutia did not play in the three international friendly matches in Pune last month after suffering a minor injury against Namibia in New Delhi on September 15. He is also not expected to take the field at Al Shaab Stadium on Thursday.

Chhetri’s injury though is not a major one as nothing serious was detected in the MRI scan taken at a Dubai local hospital.

“He needs rest for two-three days. He will be available for the match against Kuwait,” a team source said.

Chhetri scored a hat-trick in India’s 3-1 win over Vietnam in Pune on October 8.

Tomorrow’s match could be the toughest match of the series of international friendlies planned in the run-up to the next year’s January 7-29 Asian Cup,as Iraq are ranked 94th to India’s 144th in FIFA charts.

Houghton had meticulously picked the opponents for international friendlies. In the six matches played so far against Asian teams who are a few notches above India,India had won twice — against Namibia and Vietnam — and lost to Thailand (twice),Hong Kong and Yemen.

Iraq are ranked eighth among Asian countries while Kuwait (103rd) and UAE (99th) are 12th and 13th among AFC countries.

Chhetri’s absence would mean that Houghton will have to start with Abhisek Yadav who scored a goal in India’s 3-6 loss to Yemen in the side’s last international friendly on October 13 in Pune. While Sushil Kumar Singh could get his first international match after the Nehru Cup last year.

Another striker Mohammed Rafi is yet to be fully fit and he has not featured in any match since playing three games in September — two against Thailand and one against Namibia.

At the back four,Mahesh Gawli,who did not play in the three matches in Pune last month due to fitness issues,has started training and may play a part in Thursday’s match.

Gawli played in the three matches in September but was replaced by Syed Rahim Nabi in the three games in Pune.

Surkumar Singh,Anwar and Gouramangi Singh are all fit and expected to start tomorrow.

In the midfield,Anthony Pereira and Steven Dias are expected to start at the flanks while Houghton could field a youngster along with Climax Lawrence.

Baldeep Singh had been given chance to play,though not for whole 90 minutes,in two matches in Pune and Houghton may either continue with that or it could be the turn of Rakesh Masih tomorrow.

N P Pradeep,who had been having injury concerns of late,is expected to be brought later in the match.