ISL 2019-20: 5 players who could use the season to receive a national team recall

#2 Vishal Kaith

Vishal Kaith could be the third-choice goalkeeper for India if he performs well.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for India. However, there is always room for improvement and squad depth. Vishal Kaith was the third choice keeper for India in the Constantine era, a title which he seems to have lost now to Kamaljit Singh under Stimac.

Kaith, now with Chennaiyin FC has to battle it out against some experienced campaigners like Karanjit Singh and Sanjiban Ghosh to play regularly for the Marina Machans between the sticks if he hopes to claim a spot in the national team.

#1 Jeje Lalpekhlua

Jeje Lalpekhlua's absence due to injury has limited the attacking options upfront for Igor Stimac.

Jeje Lalpekhlua, once the automatic choice to partner Sunil Chhetri upfront has been struggling to make his way into the national team as well as in professional football. He aggravated a knee injury he sustained during the AFC Asian Cup 2019 and has been out of action ever since. He missed the King's Cup, Intercontinental Cup and the two FIFA World Cup qualification games after that as a result.

He also missed Chennaiyin FC's AFC Cup game against Abhani Dhaka in May due to surgery. Jeje's absence has forced Stimac to rotate the strikers around Chhetri by giving chances to Manvir Singh, Balwant Singh and Farukh Choudhary. Neither of them has been able to shown consistency in their performance.

Jeje Lalpekhlua is still not declared match-fit for Chennaiyin FC's first game of the season on October 23 in Goa. If he can regain fitness, Jeje has a good chance to get back to his old, lucid form and return to national team alongside Chhetri.