Scotsman Greg Stewart and Australian shooter Dimitrios Petratos will be available for selection for the much-anticipated Calcutta Derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the latter’s head coach Jose Molina confirmed on Friday.
While Stewart came off the bench for the Mariners at the end of their 3-0 win over Hyderabad FC on January 2 after missing three matches, Petratos returns to the squad after missing the team’s last two games.
“Greg Stewart and Dimi Petratos are available for tomorrow’s match but I can’t say whether they will be able to play 90 minutes. We will see tomorrow,” Mohun Bagan head coach Jose Molina told reporters ahead of the match against East Bengal.
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However, the Spaniard did not know whether the former Mumbai City and Jamshedpur FC player would start the match. “You’ll see tomorrow.”
The availability of the overseas duo could strengthen their position at the top of the table after Indians Ashique Kuruniyan and Anirudh Thapa were earlier ruled out of the upcoming clash.
I want to have all my players available for all matches. But injuries are part of the game. And we have enough good players to play well. I’m not making excuses,” Molina said.
The Mohun Bagan coach also admitted that the derby match being played in Guwahati will be difficult due to security concerns in the City of Joy.
“It will be very difficult. It doesn’t matter where they are [East Bengal] they are there, they have good players. They will fight and we will have to work hard and try to win the most important match for our fans,” he commented.
