SAFF Championship 2013: N Mohanraj replaces injured Gurjinder Kumar for preparatory camp

Photo Credit: AIFF Media

Mumbai Tigers left back Nallappan Mohanraj has replaced the injured Gurjinder Kumar for the SAFF Championship preparatory camp in Bangalore, Sportskeeda can confirm.

Pune FC‘s Gurjinder sustained a quadriceps injury on his right leg and thus missed out the international friendly against Tajikistan. But the 22-year-old was also set to be absent for next month’s SAFF Championship as he was ruled out for a minimum of four weeks.

His replacement Mohanraj, who joined newly-entered I-League club Mumbai Tigers this summer, is the only new name in the camp with the rest of the squad being the same that was named in the 30-man probables list ahead of the Tajikistan friendly.

Mohanraj is the only recognised left back in the camp, which started today in Bangalore, with East Bengal central defender Raju Gaikwad being used as the makeshift left back in the 3-0 defeat to Tajikistan on Wednesday. Reigning AIFF Player of the Year Syed Rahim Nabi, who was excluded from the Tajikistan friendly due to fitness concerns, is the only other player in the camp with considerable experience of playing at left back.

The camp is expected to last for nine days after which India coach Wim Koevermans will name the final squad for the SAFF Championship in Nepal. Record six-time champions and holders India begin their defence against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 1.

Preparatory camp squad:

Goalkeepers: Subrata Pal, Karanjit Singh, Sandip Nandy, Subhasish Roychowdhury.

Defenders: Denzil Franco, Nirmal Chettri, Arnab Mondal, Gouramangi Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Sandesh Jhingan, Nallappan Mohanraj.

Midfielders: Mehtab Hossain, Lalrindika Ralte, Arata Izumi, Lenny Rodrigues, Lalkamal Bhowmick, Alwyn George, Md. Rafique, Asif K, Jewel Raja Shaikh, Francis Fernandes, Tsewang Karma, Shylo Malsawmtluanga, Clifford Miranda, Syed Rahim Nabi, Vineet CK.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, Dawson Fernandes, Jeje Lalpekhlua.