Jamshedpur FC in talks with former Liverpool defender Jack Hobbs

The 31-year-old featured for Bolton Wanderers in 11 games last season.

Jamshedpur FC are set to announce Owen Coyle as their new head coach soon and with the Scotsman at the helm, the club is now in talks with former Liverpool and Leicester City centre-back Jack Hobbs, a source told Khel Now.

The Men of Steel have opted for the 'wait and watch' approach in the transfer market mainly due to the global pandemic situation. But now after finalising their head coach in Coyle, they'll look to put things in order for the upcoming Indian Super League season.

Jamshedpur FC struggled a lot last season with several injuries to their crucial players and eventually ended up in 8th position. During the off-season, they lost their long-serving Spanish defender Tiri and now the club is hoping that someone with Hobbs' experience can fill that void at the heart of the back line.

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The 31-year-old Englishman started his professional career at Lincoln City and rose through the ranks at the club before catching the eyes of Liverpool. The Reds snapped him up and while plying his trade for the junior team, he won the FA Youth Cup with them in 2006. Consistent performances at the junior level meant that he was called up for the England U-19 side in 2007.

Hobbs then went on to feature for Liverpool in a couple of Premier League and League Cup matches before going out on loan stints to Scunthorpe United and then Leicester City. He also won the League One with the Foxes in 2009. On account of his top notch performances, he was voted as the club's Young Player of the Year. Thereafter, he signed a permanent contract with the Foxes in the following season and the dream run continued with the club reaching the Championship playoffs and him winning the Player of the Year.

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He then joined Hull City on loan and then at the end of the season, signed permanently. After two seasons in Championship with Hull, Hobbs moved on and joined Nottingham Forrest where he was one of their stalwarts in defence for the first couple of seasons. However, incessant injury concerns meant that he had to leave the club and join Bolton Wanderers in an attempt to help them save from relegation. Despite his matured performances, Bolton went down to League One.

Jack Hobbs stayed with the club despite their financial issues and off-the-field miseries. They started their League One campaign with a 12-point deduction. The 31-year-old appeared in 11 games last season before his chronic back pain arrived again. His back issues sidelined him for most of the remaining campaign as Bolton finished last dropping down to League Two.

Coyle feels that the former Liverpool and Leicester City centre-back can be the leader of men for Jamshedpur FC next season and also be a worthy replacement for Tiri. The club's management is working on the deal and now it remains to be seen whether the English centre-back joins the Men of Steel for the upcoming season.