ISL 2017: ATK's Carl Baker to be ruled out for the season?

What's the story?

ATK midfielder Carl Baker is set to miss the remainder of the ISL season due to injury. The former Portsmouth midfielder joins an already crowded list of casualties for the two-time ISL champions and the club is already on the look-out for an ideal replacement who can come in for Baker in the squad.

In case you didn't know...

ATK have been plagued by injuries this season and have as many as 6 players on the treatment table including Baker. Some of the prominent names in the squad like Robbie Keane, Jayesh Rane and Ashuthosh Mehta are yet to feature in a game for the defending champions.

As a result, the team has also suffered in terms of results and are currently at the tail end of the table with only a single point to their name after drawing blank against Kerala Blasters on the opening day of the season, followed by a humiliating 4-1 loss to FC Pune City at home in their last outing.

Heart of the matter

The injury blow to Baker only adds to Teddy Sheringham's already existing list of problems and if reports are to be believed, ATK have already begun their search for an attacking midfielder in a bid to become the first side to successfully defend the ISL title.

Injuries to key attacking players have affected ATK more than any other side as they have managed to muster only a solitary goal, which came from an unlikely hero in Bipin Singh, after playing over 180 minutes of football this season.

What's next?

Sheringham will be urging the board to sign a replacement for the injured Baker as quickly as possible, but it looks highly unlikely that they will find someone before they face Jamshedpur FC in their next game tomorrow.

Author's take

Absolutely nothing is going in ATK's favour at the moment in terms of injuries, results and management. Recent reports of a fall-out between Ashley Westwood and head coach Sheringham could also add to their already existing injury woes.