Naorem Mahesh Singh Injury Update: East Bengal Star Targets November Return After Rehab

East Bengal are continuing to wait for the return of one of their most influential Indian players, Naorem Mahesh Singh, who has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during the 2025-26 Indian Super League season.

Mahesh sustained the injury during East Bengal's away fixture against Chennaiyin FC on April 11, 2026. He came on as a substitute in the second half but was forced off after picking up the knee problem. Subsequent medical assessments confirmed that he would miss the remainder of the season.

The injury came after Mahesh had already missed a portion of the campaign because of an earlier knee problem. He had returned to action in March and featured in a handful of matches before the setback against Chennaiyin.

Mahesh's rehabilitation has since progressed steadily. The East Bengal star is expected to return to the rehabilitation programme towards the end of September as he continues working towards full fitness.

The current expectation is that he could potentially make his competitive return by November if the rehabilitation progresses without complications. A November comeback would be a major boost for East Bengal, particularly with the club involved in the AFC Champions League Two group stage.

East Bengal's continental campaign includes matches against Al-Hussein SC, Al Shorta and Al-Seeb, with the club scheduled to face Al-Seeb on October 27 and November 3.

Mahesh remains an important figure for the club. Since joining East Bengal permanently in 2022, the Manipuri winger has developed into one of their key attacking players and has also represented India at senior level. He was part of East Bengal's Super Cup-winning side in 2024 and has played a significant role in the club's recent successes.