Anas Edathodika hails Jamshedpur FC and Owen Coyle for handing him a chance to return to the Indian Super League

The upcoming season of the Indian Super League is less than two months away. The teams have started their preseason for the league while some have already landed in Goa preparing for the competition and also acclimatizing with the conditions.

The upcoming ISL season will be filled up with a lot of exciting things one of which will be the return of veteran Indian defender Anas Edathodika. The former ATK centre back will ply his trade for Jamshedpur FC in the upcoming season. Anas played in the 2019-20 season with ATK and then was ruled out with injuries and fitness concerns for a whole year. This season he was snapped up by Jamshedpur FC as Owen Coyle is determined to add more experience.

On a recent interview with Khel Now, Anas revealed how Jamshedpur FC helped him get back to the ISL. He said, ““Let me begin by telling you how Jamshedpur FC helped me. Following my injury, I wasn’t speaking with any club. Later Jamshedpur came calling and I was happy about that because as you know, we have a history.”

“I was the first player to be signed by them when they formed ahead of the 2017-18 season. Back then, I wasn’t able to perform as well as I’d have liked and this is like another chance for me. I would definitely work really hard and make sure that I contribute well to the team,” Anas reminisced his first stint with the Men of Steel when they were formed.

The India international revealed how Owen Coyle helped him on his recovery journey. He feels that the thought of being wanted by a coach after a long hiatus raises confidence in a player.

“I talked to him (Coyle) during my rehabilitation period after the injury. During the course of our chat, he invited me to the team. When a coach himself talks to the player, it induces confidence in the player and I had the same feeling. ‘The coach wants me, he has me in his plans,’ is what I felt, and that I guess, gave me another good reason to return to Jamshedpur FC,” he revealed.

Jamshedpur FC have made a few tweaks to their roster after they once again failed to make it to the playoffs. Former Chennaiyin FC defender Eli Sabia has joined the club whereas former Kerala Blasters forward Jordan Murray has also joined the team. Apart from these players, Komal Thatal has joined the Men of Steel along with Ishan Pandita and former Rangers striker Greg Stewart.

Coyle will be looking to take this team to the playoffs for the first time in their history. It will be the biggest challenge for the Men of Steel as they need to break the jinx this season.