Kean Lewis suffers knee injury, likely to miss a few ties in I League
Kolkata: Mohun Bagan footballers returned back to the city on Wednesday after a commendable win against Colombo FC in the AFC Cup qualifying play off on Tuesday. The Mariners arrived at the Netaji Subhash International airport at 10:45 am today.
Coach Sanjay Sen looked satisfied with the win against Colombo FC. According to the gaffer, “We didn’t have a clear idea about our opponents (Colombo FC). The boys gave their best and I must admit it was a satisfying win.”
It will be even more satisfying for the Bagan coach as both Kean Lewis and Shehnaz Singh were on the score sheets. The Kolkata giants were without key players like Sony Norde, Eduardo, Pranoy Halder and Kingshuk Debnath, who did not travel with the team due to injury.
“The biggest positive for me is that we did not have to rely on our strikers to score as both our midfielders got their names on the score sheet. They will feel a lot more confident after scoring against a foreign team,” said Sanjay Sen to reporters at the airport.
Apart from the satisfying win against Colombo FC, Coach Sanjay Sen will be concerned with the injury to Kean Lewis. The midfielder suffered a knee injury and might force him to stay away from a few matches in I League. He has been suggested by the physio to take rest tomorrow.
Kean credited Darryl Duffy for his goal yesterday.
“It was an easy goal for me. Duffy did all the hard work. It was a perfect cross for me. All I had to do was meet the cross which I did,” said a satisfied Kean to xtratime.in
It’s been in and out for Lewis from the playing XI. He is happy to make full use of the opportunity yesterday as Sony Norde did not travel with the team. According to Lewis, “It is tough for me to have to compete with players like Norde and Katsumi. Fortunately for me I scored the goal yesterday. It was one of those days when the strikers had an off day.”
Mohun Bagan coach will once again have to shift focus as his next opponent is Aizawl FC in I League on February 04 at Rabindra Sarobar stadium.
Sony Norde, who missed the AFC Cup tie due to a hamstring injury, is fast recovering. Another foreigner Eduardo is doubtful for the tie as he is yet to recover from the back injury. The Brazilian had a MRI to assess the stature of his injury.