Top five new faces Manolo Marquez can pick for India vs Malaysia friendly

These players will be keen to break into and cement themselves in the Blue Tigers’ squad.

Manolo Marquez‘s tenure as the Indian football team‘s head coach has still not seen a victory and the Spaniard hopes for a reversal of fortunes. The Blue Tigers are set to face Malaysia in India as part of an international friendly, on the 19th of November 2024.

This year, under the stewardship of Marquez, India has played three matches drawing two games and losing once. The Indian football team hasn’t tasted victory since their victory over Kuwait in November 2023. The team has scored only one goal while conceding 4 in the three games under Marquez.

Ahead of their game against Malaysia, the Indian head coach will be looking to bring in some new blood to freshen things up. While defensive woes have been apparent for the Indian national team, scoring goals will be a major concern. Here are the five new faces that coach Marquez might recruit to freshen things up.

Vinith Venkatesh

The 19-year-old Bengaluru FC winger has been one of the most promising players on display since the start of the 2024-25 Indian Super League campaign. Venkatesh has caught the eye of club head coach Gerard Zaragoza who continues to build his confidence. The Spaniard’s faith in the young winger was repaid instantly as Venkatesh made an impressive debut in the season opener against East Bengal, scoring the only goal of the match to secure a 1-0 victory for the Blues. 

It has been a meteoric rise for the young winger who has come a long way since his days in the Bengaluru FC Academy. Vinith Venkatesh has demonstrated calmness beyond his years on the ball in pressure situations.

The winger from Karnataka has tremendous potential, with a mesmerizing footballing IQ and technical ability with a high ceiling. A promising homegrown talent already displaying huge potential could be the spark Marquez might be looking for in the national team.

Nihal Sudeesh 

Another player who has been a standout performer in the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) has been Punjab FC winger Nihal Sudeesh. His parent club Kerala Blasters FC might be kicking themselves after loaning out Sudeesh to play for Punjab FC this season.

The young forward from Kerala has been a key figure in Punjab’s attack this season while demonstrating his dynamism on the wings. This season for Punjab, Sudeesh was influential as he scored crucial goals against Kerala Blasters and Odisha FC, bagging home the Man of the Match honors in both games. The winger’s raw pace, ability to cut inside, and hunger for goals have made him a nightmare for opposition defenders.

An ambitious player, Sudeesh has capitalized on the change of scene and instilled a lot of discipline under the new coaching staff. His never-ending hunger and desire on the pitch for Punjab FC might be the quality Marquez will be looking for in his recruits. His progression from a young player at Kerala Blasters to a star performer for Punjab FC would have been noticed by the Spaniard as he looks for an attacking burst up front. 

ALSO READ: Looking back at when Indian football team last faced Malaysia

Nikhil Prabhu

Punjab FC has some amazing young talent in their books and Nikhil Prabhu has equally shown his class and versatility in the 2024-25 ISL campaign. While originally being a defender, Prabhu has seamlessly transitioned into a centre midfield role under Greek coach Panagiotis Dilmperis. He has anchored the midfield while playing an instrumental part in Punjab FC’s early-season success, displaying his quality on the defensive and offensive side of the ball.

The 24-year-old has been a mainstay in the Punjab FC midfield and has impressed with his defensive skills, making interceptions and effectively recovering balls from the opposition. His ability to accurately thread long passes have been key to Punjab’s ferocious ability to transition from defense to attack with ease.

Prabhu’s stellar performances easily might have made him candidate number one for a national team call-up under Marquez. His leadership in the middle of the park, dictating play and maintaining possession can be what the Spaniard needs in his national team set-up.

Tekcham Abhishek Singh

The 19-year-old defender from Manipur further exemplifies all the good things Punjab FC has achieved in the league phase this season. Primarily playing as a right-back, Abhishek has quickly become a key figure in the team’s backline.

Displaying defensive discipline and tactical awareness, Dilmperis has effectively deployed him and has quickly repaid as is evident from Punjab FC’s solid start to the season. A consistent player who has delivered strong performances for Punjab this season, his ability to recognize danger is an asset for any coach.

Abhishek’s strong ability in the defensive phase of play will be something Marquez will be looking for to strengthen his defense. The rise through the ranks and confidence on the field reflects his readiness to don the iconic Blue Tigers jersey.

His solid defending and tactical flexibility make Abhishek Singh a viable option for the Spaniard’s plans. His performances not only indicate a bright future but also showcase a lot of potential as a national team prospect.

Jithin M.S.

The 26-year-old centre forward from Kerala has made a compelling argument with his performances for NorthEast United this season. Playing predominantly as a winger, his pace, determination, and creativity have been crucial to the Highlanders’ attacking play.

One of his most notable performances came during the team’s 1-1 draw against the Kerala Blasters in matchweek 3. His relentless pressing won a vital free-kick that eventually led to the 58th-minute goal by Alaeddine Ajaraie. Jithin also created multiple dangerous opportunities for his team and also came close after spurning a scoring opportunity just before half-time.

In another high-profile contest against Mohun Bagan, the forward provided a key assist by linking up again with Ajaraie in a close game.

His tireless work rate and pace make him a disrupting presence for opposition defenders, and a valuable asset on the wing. His physical traits in attack could be the missing piece that Marquez will be looking to bring into attack for India.

With eyes set on securing his first victory as Team India head coach, Manolo Marquez will have the pick of the bunch ahead of their game against Malaysia.

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