Exclusive: Gourav Mukhi set to return to action for Jamshedpur FC

It has been more than a year since the striker had appeared for the Men of Steel in an ISL game.

Gourav Mukhi is all set to return to first-team action for Jamshedpur FC following a prolonged absence, after serving his ban for age-fraud, that came to light in the previous season. The player has been training with the first team since the last 15 days, Khel Now understands. Mukhi was hailed as the youngest-ever goalscorer in the ISL, when he bagged a goal against Bengaluru FC on October 7, 2018. However, the AIFF sanctioned a ban on him the very next month. In September last year though, his ban was lifted and he was given clearance by the federation upon the submission of his original documents. Despite him being banned for months, Jamshedpur FC did not abandon the player. He was rather shunted to their reserve team and is now set to be drafted back into the first-team squad. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] Gourav Mukhi played only three matches in the previous campaign. He scored and assisted a goal each before this whole saga unfolded in the public eye. However, he again made news last September, when he scored a goal in the first match of his comeback. Jamshedpur’s reserve team played a friendly against Chennaiyin FC, which the latter won 4-2. He even assisted a goal in that match and put forth a timely reminder that he hadn’t lost his touch, despite staying away from footballing action for quite some time. On Mukhi's clearance three months ago, an AIFF source had told IANS, “He was banned for age-fraud, but he is clear to play after he submitted original documents to the AIFF. The federation had banned him for six months and had asked him to submit correct documents for (Central Registration System). He accepted the verdict and on completion of the ban, AIFF looked at his original documents and gave him clearance to participate in official events.” [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS] Subsequently, Khel Now can also confirm that defenders Augustin Fernandes and Keegan Pereira has been released by the Men of Steel. Pereira has appeared in four matches this season, being booked twice in those games. On the other hand, Augustin failed to turn out for his team in the starting XI in any of their matches. Jamshedpur FC are currently in fifth spot, just three points behind fourth-placed Mumbai City FC. They are facing an injury crisis of sorts in their forward line and hence the move to bring Mukhi back into the first-team makes sense from both the coach and the management’s perspective. It remains to be seen how Mukhi recovers from the jolt that has hampered his progress with the club in the last year or so.