Kerala await Mumbai challenge

Still in search of their first win, Kerala Blasters’ season has been in stark contrast with that of Mumbai City, who have made a habit of not losing.

Steve Coppell’s Kerala are yet to score in three matches and will be hoping to make the most out of their final tie in a run of three consecutive home games that started with Atletico Kolkata on October 2, as they square up against Alexandre Guimaraes’s unbeaten and uncompromising Mumbai on Friday.

The hosts are bolstered by the return of marquee signing Aaron Hughes who played in Northern Ireland’s 0-2 loss to Germany in a World Cup qualifier but an injury to stand-in captain Cedric Hengbart sustained against Delhi has threatened to further upset their already precarious team balance.

Mumbai are yet again without Diego Forlan, who was left out of the match-day squad in a thrilling 1-1 draw against Kolkata on Tuesday, as they prepare for their first effective away fixture of the season after playing the first three rounds in Maharashtra.

This fixture has resulted in goalless draws in the two previous editions but Mumbai hold the edge in the head-to-head tally with one win.

Kerala are likely to continue their 4-4-2 system with India veteran Sandip Nandy in goal and Michael Chopra in the no. 10 position behind Duckens Nazon.

Argentine Matias Defederico will lead the line in the absence of Forlan and Haitian winger Sony Norde is expected to make his first start. Mumbai will be without central midfielder Pronay Halder who has been a towering presence in their season so far. Sehnaj Singh is expected to slip into Halder’s position while Jackichand Singh is on the verge of making his first start.