Kolkata: Mohun Bagan hope their Haitian star striker Sony Norde can shake off a niggling knee injury to feature against Aizawl FC in a crucial I-League football match here on Saturday.
Norde, Bagan’s star player, did not train on Friday, raising questions about his availability for the match to be played at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.
Asked about the status of his injury, Norde said he wants to take the field against in-form Aizawl and will take a call only on match day. “I have more than 24 hours to take decision. I feel some pain in my knee but I want to play. The coach asked me if I feel pain I better take rest because two important games are coming up (Asian Football Confederation Cup home match against Colombo FC and I-League derby against East Bengal),” Norde told reporters on Friday.
Norde was not in the squad for Bagan’s AFC Cup away leg match against Colombo FC last Tuesday. Mohun Bagan won the match 2-1.
“He is struggling and there is a big question mark (on whether Norde will play or not),” Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen said.
“This is the first team in the season we have injuries in so many positions besides the goalkeeper,” Sen added.
Raju Gaikwad and Eduardo Perreira, winger Kean Lewis and striker Balwant Singh have been ruled out of the match. (IANS)
