Imran Khan should get to next level: Khalid Jamil

KOLKATA: Jamshedpur FC coach Khalid Jamil was more than pleased with the performance of Imran Khan who had an incredible Indian Super League (ISL) game against Mumbai City FC at JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Saturday.

Imran, who got a call up to the Indian team early this year, had quite a remarkable outing with the Men of Steel last season and he has continued from where he left off, this season too.

On Saturday, playing against the defending champions and one of the favourites this season, too, the footballer from Manipur was a livewire on the right wing and made Sahil Panwar’s life quite difficult.

After making some lovely runs early on, it was finally in the 36th minute that he made a decisive move. Imran played a dummy, and then dropped his shoulders to get past Panwar before releasing a cross towards the centre with his left foot from outside the box. It was inch perfect and all Jordan Murray had to do was jump up and redirect the ball towards the goal, and he obliged.

About four minutes later, the Maniouri winger delivered another cross near the middle from much further out. This time it was for Javier Siverio but the Spaniard’s header was saved by Mumbai goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa.

However, within a couple of minutes he forced Panwar for a foul on him that earned the Mumbai player a yellow and helped Jamshedpur win a free-kick. It was well outside the box but at a good position. And Javi Hernandez had no trouble in scoring directly from it.

Any coach would have been proud of such a performance and speaking after the game which the hosts won 3-2, Jamil said, “Imran is doing well. He is experienced and he knows better. He’s making good deliveries. He now should just maintain his form and try to get to the next level.”

The coach, however, added, “He could have done better at times.”

As for the overall performance, Jamil said, “We worked very hard and that’s why we got the result. We must keep the same spirit. We should now think of the next game.”

The coach, meanwhile, made only one change to the starting eleven from the last match by bringing in Murray and it was quite a masterstroke.

Murray, who scored the winner in the last game against FC Goa, not only gave Jamshedpur the lead but also played a part in the third goal.

Speaking of the change, Jamil added, “We needed an early goal, so played Jordan Murray from the beginning to give support to Javier Siverio and Javi Hernández.”

Hopefully the trio will be able to carry on their good show even in the next game which will be away to Odisha FC coming Saturday.

Also all eyes will be on Imran, who will hope to deliver once again and maybe then get a chance to play for the national team sometime in the future.


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