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The Indian National football team left for Amman on Thursday to play their next International friendly against 112-ranked Jordan but were stuck in Kuwait and Doha due to floods in the Middle-East.
Even before they could reach Jordan, the excitement has already started to build up for the match, which will be held on 17th November at 10.30 pm IST. However, the Blue Tigers suffered a huge blow after it was confirmed that their talismanic striker Chhetri would have to miss out of the action due to an ankle injury he is currently nursing.
Chhetri, India's all-time top scorer with 65 goals for the nation, is usually the go-to man when it comes to scoring goals. With him unable to join, the responsibility must be picked up by someone else.
It will also be important that the Blue Tigers find the back of the net as Jordan is a strong team with some in-form prolific strikers so it is highly likely that they score. Also, in the long run, 34-year-old Chhetri is sure to hang up his boots sooner or later so the onus of scoring goals for the national team must be divided with the incoming youngsters. The Indian team gaffer has also announced the 22-member team for the match after the 3-day national training camp in New Delhi.
So without further ado, let us analyse the 5 players who can pick up Chhetri's responsibility of scoring the goals in the upcoming match based on their recent performances in the domestic circuit.
#5 Jeje Lalpekhlua
The Mizo sniper, as he is popularly known, is 6th on the list when it comes to India's all-time top goalscorers. However, the 27-year-old, who also has 51 caps for the Blue Tigers, has not enjoyed the best of form in the current season of the ISL for Chennaiyin FC. In the 7 matches he has played thus far, his contribution for the team has been negligible. The forward has still not been able to find the back of the net even once in his 301 minutes on the field, nor does he have any assists.
The Hnahthial-born player was the 2nd highest Indian goal-scorer in ISL 2017-18 as he scored 9 goals in 20 matches for Chennaiyin FC, the Marina Machans. However, just as his team is struggling to find form this season, so is Jeje. It is likely that Constantine will start with him in the match against Jordan and this is an excellent opportunity for Jeje to redeem himself by scoring a goal and finding the much-needed confidence.
#2 Balwant Singh
ATK started their ISL 2018-19 campaign slow but have gradually picked up. The Red and Whites started with 2 back-to-back defeats but now they have 10 points from their 7 matches (3 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses) -- and are positioned at 6th in the table.
Balwant Singh scored an important goal in the 2-1 over Delhi Dynamos. ATK's striker has got only 1 goal from his 7 matches but is creating good opportunities for himself and the team. The Punjab-born forward has also helped his team's defence and has 18 tackles, 4 Interceptions, 7 clearances, and 5 blocks from his 7 matches in the ISL. Balwant scored 6 goals in the 16 matches he played for Mumbai City FC in the last season.
ALSO READ: Coach Constantine plays down rift with Chhetri
Even though he has not scored as many goals with ATK this time around, he can be seen working hard on the field. The 31-year-old has 9 caps for the national team, from which he has scored 3 goals. He scored an important brace in the 2-0 win against Macau on 3 September 2017 during the Asian Cup qualifiers.
However, Balwant did not receive many National team call-ups post that game and has finally got his opportunity to shine again. With Chhetri not playing, he may get to play the full 90 minutes in the match if he performs well. What Balwant will aim to do now is score a goal against Jordan to get back in the limelight.
#3 Udanta Singh
Kumam Udanta Singh wreaks havoc for the opposition's defences due to his blistering speed and acceleration. The Manipur-born winger is known to provide assists more than scoring goals but that has not reflected in the current ISL season. In his 5 matches for Bengaluru FC, Udanta does not have goals or assists to his name -- a stat the Tata Football Academy product will be highly disappointed with. The 22-year-old has 13 national caps and one goal for the Blue Tigers, which he scored in the game against Chinese Taipei in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup.
ALSO READ: Know your opponent - Jordan
Udanta, just like Jeje and Balwant, has not had the best of form but shown glimpses of his brilliance. He can be a threat and everyone is aware of his ability to score goals every now and then. With Chhetri not there, Udanta will be keen to take it upon himself to find the back of the net or at least assist Jeje and Balwant in the game against Jordan.
#4 Jackichand Singh and Halicharan Narzary
It is tough to pick between the two as they both play on the same position -- left wing. It will be interesting to see who Constantine picks in the starting line-up as both have been in tremendous form for their respective ISL clubs.
24-year-old Halicharan has been an important part of the Kerala Blasters this season. He is always seen going forward with a positive mindset and floated in good crosses from the left flank. With 1 goal and an assist, as well as good defensive figures, the Assam-born player will be happy with his 7 ISL matches so far. He will hope to replicate his form for the national team and what better way for it than to score a goal.
ALSO READ: Sunil Chhetri challenging legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi
On the other hand, the Manipur-born player Jackichand Singh has always been at the heart of things for the Gaurs. He has found the back of the net twice, once in the 5-0 drubbing of Mumbai City FC and the 2nd in the 4-2 win over the Stallions -- FC Pune City.
Sergio Lobera has put his trust in him by letting him play the full 90 minutes in almost every game and he has also not disappointed his coach. Jackichand has 2 goals and 1 assist to his name in ISL 2018-19, making him the current joint 3rd highest Indian goal scorer along with CK Vineeth, Chhangte, and Rowllin Borges. He will be hoping to impress the critics in the upcoming friendly against Jordan, if given the chance, and try to secure his place in the Blue Tigers line-up ahead of the AFC Asian Cup in 2019.
#5 Ashique Kuruniyan
Muhammad Ashique Kuruniyan may get his 6th cap for the Indian National football team. It is likely that the 21-year-old forward is used as a substitute in case Jeje or Balwant fail to get going. The Kerala-born youngster is having an average ISL season with Pune City and has scored 1 goal from the 7 matches. Ashique recently scored a goal for the Blue Tigers in the 2-0 win over Sri Lanka at the 2018 SAFF Championship. He also came on as a substitute during the 2018 Intercontinental Cup match against Chinese Taipei.
Manvir Singh is another youngster who can be used as a substitute by Constantine in an attempt to find goals. The Punjab-born forward has a knack of scoring goals and was India's top-scorer in the 2018 SAFF Championship with 3 goals to his name. He does not get much playing time with FC Goa as their in-form starlet Ferran Corominas singlehandedly provides so many goals. However, the 23-year-old did not disappoint whenever he was got on as a sub and has 1 goal and 1 assist in 6 ISL matches for the Gaurs.
Rowllin Borges, Komal Thatal and Farukh Choudhary were called to the 30-member training camp but did not make it to the final squad.
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Robin Singh and Gourav Mukhi are two players who were not even called to the 30 member camp despite their heroics in the ISL. Note: The previous line is sarcastic.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the Indian custodian, is also expected to have a busy day at the office just as he did against China. Jordan does have the upper hand in this match with Chhetri ruled out but the aforementioned 6 players will leave no stone unturned to at least give them a good fight by scoring goals.
