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Kerala Blasters' star striker Iain Hume is all set to make a comeback from injury in their ISL game against NorthEast United FC, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Kochi on Friday.
Hume, who had been suffering from a hamstring injury, did not feature in the Blasters' 5-2 defeat at the hands of FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium, in their last match. However, the Canadian striker has recovered sufficiently, to make his comeback for Kerala Blasters. Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown has also recovered from his injury, confirmed Kerala Blasters coach Rene Meulensteen.
"Hume and Wes Brown have returned to full training, but lack match fitness. Both of them will make it to the squad for tomorrow’s game," said Meulensteen.
However, marquee signing Dimitar Berbatov has been ruled out of the game, Meulensteen confirmed. "The way the last game panned out after Berbatov left, shows how important he is to the team," said Meulensteen.
As they come up against NorthEast United FC, Meulensteen will be counting on the expertise of his assistant Thangboi Singto, who has spent years nurturing players from the Northeast region. He said, “Thangboi can give us insight about some of the NEUFC players which can surely help us in preparing against NorthEast United FC."
However, NEUFC head coach Carlos De Deus completely refuted these claims by Meulensteen, saying that although Singto may know most of the players from NEUFC, it his tactics that will make the real difference.
"Thangboi cannot influence the game as he doesn't know my tactics even though he knows our players," said De Deus.
The NorthEast coach further went on to praise the Blaster, saying that Muelensteen’s side has a lot of quality player and that it is just their poor fortune that they have not managed a win as of yet.
"Kerala Blasters have very good players and play the game through the wings,” said De Deus. “They had a bad day in the last game and in football, nobody knows what will happen in the next game.”
It will be an interesting match-up between two sides that have promised a lot but are yet to get into their full stride.
