Injuries, late arrivals plague Indian football team's preparations

JAIPUR: It's raining problems for Stephen Constantine.
Days before India travel to Laos for the first of their two-legged Asian Cup UAE 2019 qualifiers playoff, a raft of injuries to first team players coupled with host of late arrivals have sent preparations for a toss.
It was learnt from sources in the national team that a number of first team players have either been released due to nagging injuries or are still in a quandary over their fitness, leaving the national coach in between the rock and a hard place.
The likes of midfield linchpin Pronay Halder and centre-back Augustine Fernandes had to be released from the camp called on May 19, reportedly due to injuries they were carrying from the Federation Cup.
Aizawl FC's captain and utility midfielder David Lalriamuana also injured himself on the first day of practice in Guwahati thus making him a casualty as well.
Adding to the woes is Mohun Bagan's full back Pritam Kotal who has injured his knee which rules him out of the away game at least. "He is still with us in the camp but is unlikely to make it to the June 2 match. We are hoping he will be fit for the home leg on 7th," a camp insider said.
East Bengal's Harmanjyot Khabra and fit-again Anthony D'Souza have also been released.
Seven Bengaluru FC players –on a high after pulling off an upset against Hong Kong champions Kitchee SC in the AFC round of 16 match – join the camp as late as Saturday morning. The team departs for Laos next Tuesday (May 31).
"We had to release Pronay, Augustine and Kotal is doubtful. Rowlin (Borges), Bikash (Jairu), (Cavin) Lobo and Robin (Singh) are not here, and on a given day all are starters for the national team," Constantine told TOI from Guwahati on Friday.
"With injuries having hit us hard, I had only 15 outfield players to train with even after the Bagan players joined us.
"We will be testing the BFC boys and can only hope they are not carrying injuries too. CK Vineeth is already out for a surgery he needs to have," added the Briton.
BFC players skipper Sunil Chhetri, goalkeeper Amrinder Singh, midfield mainstay Eugeneson Lyngdoh, full backs Rino Anto and Keegan Pereira, hotshot rookie striker Udanta Singh and No 10 Alwyn George are expected to complete the line-up when they arrive on Saturday with first-choice keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu likely to join the squad directly in New Delhi after Stabaek FC’s league game on Sunday.
Meanwhile Laos, ranked 14 places below India at 176, will be playing a friendly before turning up against Constantine's wards at home.