Kalinga Super Cup 2024: East Bengal In Urgency To Find Solution To Their Goal Conundrum

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With the Kalinga Super Cup 2024 kicking off in Bhubaneswar, the expectations of the trophy may have returned among the fans since losing the Durand Cup 2024 final to arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giants last September.

Sitting eighth on the ISL 2023-24 points table midway through the season means there's skepticism in the group as well; especially when the forward line is misfiring (third-lowest goal tally in the league). And with the winter transfer window open, Red & Gold Fans have been yearning for immediate reinforcement.

Vacancy for foreign goalscorer

As per the grapevine, efforts are already on to bring in a foreign striker as early as possible. The urgency is down to another Kolkata Derby awaiting on January 18, which very well could be the decider for the semifinal spot. However, with just 11 goals score in 10 games by the club in the first phase of ISL, guns have been pointed at striker Javier Siverio for not delivering the goods.

The Spanish striker's failure to break the duck meant head coach Carles Cuadrat had to turn his No.10 Cleiton Silva into a makeshift striker and the Brazilian did reasonably well with five goals. The requirement for goals, however, don't just ends with the Super Cup, calling for a long-term solution through the transfer window.

Absence of key players due to AFC Asian Cup

East Bengal's problems don't just end there as their star winger Naorem Mahesh Singh and first-choice centre-back Lalchunnunga are away on national duty, making Cuadrat work harder to earn his paycheque.

Kalinga Super 2024 allowing six foreigners in the line-up comes to the coach's aid here, allowing him the option to use Hijazi Maher and Jose Pardo as the centre-back pairing ahead of shot-stopper Prabhsukhan Gill. As far as Noarem's absence is concerned, it could be the other winger Nandhakumar Sekar's moment to take charge and shine while the likes of PV Vishnu and VP Suhair have a chance to step up.

Mandar Rao Dessai and Nishu Kumar are expected to keep their spots as the fullbacks while right-back and captain Harmanjot Khabra is yet to recover from the knee injury suffered in ISL in December. There are not many concerns in the midfield as well with Souvik Chakrabarti, Saul Crespo, and Borja Herera retaining their places from ISL.

However, ideally Kalinga Super Cup is a good opportunity for Cuadrat to test his bench strength. With the lack of creative midfield outlet from the bench was always felt in ISL matches, this tournament could be used to give opportunities to youngsters such as Vanlalpeka Guite, Ajay Chhetri and Mobashir Rahman to get some minutes.

East Bengal probable line-up: Prabhsukhan Gill (GK); Nishu Kumar, Hijazi Maher, Jose Pardo, Mandar Rao; Nandhakumar, Souvik Chakrabarti, Saul Crespo, Borja Herrera, PV Vishnu; Cleiton Silva

Players unavailable: Noarem Mahesh Singh, Lalchunnunga (AFC Asian Cup); Harmanjot Khabra (injury)

East Bengal Schedule in Group A
East Bengal vs Hyderabad FC (January 9, 2:00 PM)
East Bengal vs Sreenidi Deccan (January 14, 7:30 PM)
Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal (January 19, 7:30 PM)