Kerala Blasters FC are set to face NorthEast United FC today at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi for a fourth-round clash of the Indian Super League. NEUFC currently stand two points behind Blasters at fifth position in the ISL table and will look to close the gap in today’s fixture.
A depleted defence
The upcoming home fixture against NorthEast United FC will present a tough test for the Kerala Blasters bench. After a solid defensive start to the season, Blasters will now be forced to revamp their defensive line as they miss key players due to suspension and injuries after the 1-2 loss against Mumbai City on October 8.
While centre-back Milos Drincic was shown a straight red card and subsequently handed a three-match ban against Mumbai City, left-back Aibanbah Dohling, who suffered a knee injury in the same game, is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing a surgery.
Right-back Prabir Das, who was also involved in the on-field altercation, is also unavailable with a three-match suspension. Although centre-back Marko Leskovic has recovered from his injury, he is not yet back to full fitness. Blasters will look to their bench to face the threat of the explosive NEUFC forwards, especially their in-form striker, Parthib Gogoi.
Indian backline likely
In the absence of international players Drincic and Leskovic, Blasters are likely to field an all-Indian defence with Pritam Kotal, Sandeep Singh, Ruivah Hormipam and Naocha Singh Huidrom.
Drincic and Prabir Das will return to action in the home fixture against Hyderabad on November 25.
Defensive midfielder and the team's mainstay, Jeakson Singh, too is out with an injury. He is expected to be sidelined for at least three months.
Blasters coach Ivan Vukomanović, too, will be absent in today’s match against NEUFC, serving his 10-match ban for leading the team off the field in protest during the 2022-23 playoff match against Bengaluru FC.
He is expected to be back on the sidelines against Odisha FC on October 27.
