#3 Nikhil Poojary
The promising under-22 player had a bad case of injuries before he made his appearance for the Red and Golds this season. But once he took the field, there was no looking back for the diminutive winger.
Under the guidance of Trevor Morgan, Poojary flourished on the flanks and had been the creator of numerous attacks from the channels. His knee was a cause of concern for the Red and Golds but the Mumbaikar did not let that come in his way. His dazzling footwork on the wings outwitted defenders time and again.
Nikhil has the pace to outdo defenders and his movement makes it ominous for the wingbacks who simply cannot afford to lose him. East Bengal have only three players in the under-22 segment but no one apart from Poojary can be deemed worthy enough to find a place in the senior side. With a dismal home record of only 1.44 goals per match, he should look to seal his place in the starting XI in the upcoming tournament.
Player to replace- None