ISL 2017: 5 players who could become superstars in the future

4) Ashique Kuruniyan

Ashique Kuruniyan

Ashique (June 1997) opened his account when FC Pune City thrashed Northeast United 5-0. The youngster from Malappuram gave his side the lead in the eighth minute of the match.

The 20-year-old made his professional debut for the club on 10 December 2017 in their match against Jamshedpur. He came on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Emiliano Alfaro as Pune City won 1–0. Despite scoring just 1 goal, he makes the list due to some dangerous balls he put in and getting in some dangerous positions.

Born in Malappuram, Kerala, Kuruniyan was the fifth child of a father who owned a shop and a mother who was a housewife. At his school, Ashique never played football until his physical education teacher made him play in the absence of their striker.

“Since I had won medals in the 100 meters and 200 meters track, my PT teacher thought that I would do well in the team,” recalled Ashique in an interview. Surprisingly, he performed well in that match and since then football has been his sport. In 2016, when Pune's academy was sold and converted to the FC Pune City Academy, Kuruniyan joined them. In October 2016 it was announced that Kuruniyan would join Villarreal C, the third-team of La Liga side Villarreal, on loan from Pune City.

However, after training in Spain for four months, Kuruniyan returned to India in February 2017, after suffering a hamstring injury.

He can play a vital role in FC Pune City's journey this season.