I-League 2017: Mohun Bagan star Yuta Kinowaki likely to miss Churchill Brothers match

What's the Story

Having defeated arch Rivals East Bengal in the Kolkata Derby last week, Mohun Bagan will be looking to carry on their winning form against Churchill Brothers on Sunday. However, the Green and Maroons face a difficult time in the lead up to the game, as their star midfielder Yuta Kinowaki may miss the match due to a recurring injury.

In Case You Didn't Know

Although Kinowaki had played in the Kolkata Derby last week, he had been suffering from a groin injury in the lead up to the I-League season, and had missed the opening match against Minerva Punjab FC.

The Heart of the Matter

Sources within the Mohun Bagan camp say that Kinowaki still needs some time to recover. Even if Kinowaki is unfit to play, Bagan are said to have a 'Plan B' in the form of either Sourav Mondal or Shilton D’Silva.

Now, Bagan cannot afford to worry too much about the list of injuries to their squad. They have to focus on tomorrow's clash with the Churchill Brothers team. The two teams have locked horns 36 times in the so far. While Mohun Bagan have won 11 times, Churchill have won 7 encounters, with 18 games ending in a draw.

What Next?

With this match as their 13th I-League showdown, Bagan will be aiming to get their second win of the season, as the try to mount another challenge for the title. Without Yuta Kinowaki set to miss out on the next game, the Kolkata team will have their work cut out for them.

Sportskeeda's Take

Mohun Bagan captain Sony Norde has to be credited for his supreme leadership skills but with so many injured players, he will have trouble marshalling his troops. Hopefully, for their sake, Kinowaki will make a speedy recovery.