Emiliano Alfaro set to join ATK on loan from Pune City

The Uruguayan is set to be a short-term replacement for Kalu Uche.

In what came as a surprise for FC Pune City fans, star striker Emiliano Alfaro is set to join ATK on a loan deal. Alfaro will join ATK as a replacement for their injured forward Kalu Uche. The deal can be deemed to be of mutual benefit for both clubs as Pune City are required to offload one of their overseas players in order to make way for returning Iain Hume.

Nigerian Uche, who limped off during the game against Bengaluru, suffered from torn quadriceps muscles and was confirmed by ATK to be absent for at least a month. Since then, head coach Steve Coppell was out to seek a new goal poacher and eventually turned his attention towards Alfaro.

“Kalu has gone back to Barcelona. He had an extensive tear in his quadriceps muscles. It is grade three which is quite bad. He has gone to Barcelona to receive further medical treatment. He obviously leaves a big hole in our squad,” Coppell said.

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“We have requested the ISL whether we can replace him in the short team. They have said yes but that creates problems in itself because trying to find someone for a short period of time is very difficult,” he added. “We have sent feelers out for replacements. We expect Kalu to be fit around Christmas and so we are really looking out for a player to fill in.”

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The Kolkata-based outfit are in dire need of goals as they have scored just seven times in as many games played. Although Uche has appeared only five times in Coppell’s side and scored just one goal, ATK will badly miss the presence of the former Espanyol, Levante and Almeria forward. They need a key player to end their woes in front of the goal and hence the arrival of Alfaro will benefit them to great extent.

However, the Uruguayan, too, is struggling for goals this season as he has scored just one time and has also missed a couple of penalties in the process. Coppell is hopeful that the former Lazio player can lead his side, who are currently sixth in the table, to qualify for the playoffs.