With national football captain Baichung Bhutia no longer young and grappling with injuries, chief coach Bob Houghton today said the youngsters in the team will have to step up and fill the talismanic striker's place.
The 33-year-old Baichung suffered a reccurring thyroid problem while in Portugal for the Indian team's two-month training stint as part of preparations for next year's Asian Cup and did not play a single practice match there.
Houghton said Baichung will take some more time to be match fit but made it clear that he will play a role in the AFC Asian Cup to be held in Doha, Qatar in January next year.
"We played 10 practice games in five weeks in Portugal and Baichung did not play any of them as he had some thyroid problem, a reccurring one. He had lost weight due to the problem. He is back for training but is not match fit still," Houghton said at the pre-match press conference ahead of India's second international friendly against Thailand here tomorrow.
Asked if Baichung can be match fit for India's third home match against Gambia here on September 19, Houghton said, "We have to see. He will take some time to be match fit. But surely he will play a role in the AFC Asian Cup in January."
"We miss him. He has been a big influence in the side for so long. He is an exemplary player. But he is going to finish some day. It is difficult to accept. But his absence will give young players a chance to do well for the country."
"Besides Sunil Chhetri and Mohammed Rafi who played in Bangkok we have three other forwards in Abhishek Yadav, Sushil
Kumar Singh, Baljit Singh Sahni. They will have to step up and
perform," Houghton said.
The experienced Englishman was satisfied with the performance of his boys in their 0-1 loss in Bangkok considering that they were playing their first international match after a long two-month tour of Portugal.
"It was not easy. We had injuries in Portugal though we were lucky not to have a major one. We had small injuries to some players. It was not easy to play an international match after a lot of travelling. The ground was heavy due to the monsoon there," he said.
"But we played a good game in Bangkok and we are looking forward to tomorrow's match. Thailand are an improving side under a very good coach Bryan Robson, one of the best players of the world in his time. They want to play in the Asian Cup regularly and are aiming to qualify for the World Cup," said the India coach.
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