Three East Bengal players who can replace Mohamad Rakip against Hyderabad FC

Mohamad Rakip will miss the next match due to suspension.

East Bengal built on an admirable winning run with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the weekend. The Red & Gold Brigade are now going to finish off 2024 with a trip to Hyderabad FC in their final game of the year.

A new headache has been created for Oscar Bruzon ahead of this game. That is because he’ll miss his trusted right-back Mohamad Rakip for the trip as he’s suspended due to the accumulation of four yellow cards.

Rakip has been an ever-present figure in the East Bengal team in the 2024-25 season, playing in 10 of their 12 matches and helping them keep four clean sheets. East Bengal will miss the proactive, energetic defender against Hyderabad but they have quite a few options who can slot in as his replacement.

3. Jeakson Singh

Jeakson Singh has turned out to be a versatile asset for Bruzon, being able to play multiple roles in his system. The 23-year-old has even played as a right-winger this season and definitely has it in his skill set to operate as a full-back. Jeakson is a defensively sturdy player who is proactive in winning duels and regaining possession.

He can deal with the Hyderabad FC players’ pace moving through the wings and has the intelligence to stop them in their tracks with clever challenges. He has enough energy to move up and down the pitch on the right side to cover the maximum distance in the wide areas. Jeakson might not be able to create a plethora of chances, but he’s at least capable on the defensive side to fulfill the responsibilities of a right-back.

2. Nishu Kumar

Fortunately for the Red & Gold Brigade, Nishu Kumar has now gotten rid of his injury issues and is fit enough to start matches. The 27-year-old is quite the experienced customer after playing at the top of Indian football for many years now.

Nishu has proven his quality as a reliable full-back who can be equally good as a right-back or left-back. The 27-year-old has the physical prowess to bully wingers and win back the ball from them, while he’s able to read the opposition’s moves well enough to neutralize a threat.

Kumar is also quite energetic in bursting forward with the ball and capable of swinging in inviting crosses from the right side, something that can benefit East Bengal’s goal-scoring prowess as well. The Hyderabad FC clash can be an ideal platform for Kumar to prove his prowess in a starting role and show he can be rotated with Rakip in that right-back position.

1. Provat Lakra

Provat Lakra has mostly been used in a left-back role by Bruzon at East Bengal this season, but his natural position is actually on the other side of the pitch.

The 27-year-old performed admirably in the right-back position for Jamshedpur FC in the 2023-24 season, producing some encouraging performances thanks to his defensive fortitude. Lakra is more than capable of filling in for Rakip in the right-back position against Hyderabad, especially considering his proactive performances in this campaign for the Red & Gold Brigade.

The 27-year-old full-back has enough pace in his arsenal as well as a relentless hunger to win duels, which can help him neutralize the Nawabs’ threat moving down the wide areas. Lakra is also quite threatening moving forward, as he can carry the ball forward and boasts a pretty good crossing ability.

Provat is still looking for ways to consistently feature for East Bengal and Bruzon can test his quality on the right side by fielding him against Hyderabad FC.

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