Jeje Lalpekhlua hopes to be back for Chennaiyin by November

Recovering from a knee injury, Jeje Lalpekhlua will miss the first three matches of Chennaiyin FC in the upcoming edition of Indian Super League (ISL).

Chennaiyin FC's Jeje Lalpekhlua aims to return to action by November, as he recovers from a knee injury.

Watching Chennaiyin FC’s (CFC) final pre-season friendly from the sidelines against Real Kashmir FC at the Sri Ramachandra grounds in Porur here on Monday, must have been very painful for the team’s most-capped player, Jeje Lalpekhlua. Since undergoing a successful knee surgery in June this year, the 28-year-old from Mizoram has been undergoing a rehabilitation process at the Sri Ramachandra Centre for Sports Sciences here.

Jeje will definitely miss all the three matches for his club in October, but he is hopeful of sporting the club’s jersey by November. The first match that Jeje will not play will be one involving FC Goa on October 23 (away), the second will be against Mumbai City FC (home) on October 27 and third will be against ATK (home) on October 30. “I miss [playing] a lot. I cannot sit properly! [I] always want to play with them (CFC). But it is going to be tough work. [We] have to work hard. [For me], let’s see the recovery is going well. Within one month I will be fit provided the doctors give me the green signal,” Jeje told Sportstar.

It was the worst season for CFC and for Jeje in the previous edition of the Indian Super League, where they finished at the bottom of the table. Despite criticism on Jeje’s inability to score, head coach John Gregory had persisted with him. “It was quite difficult and one of the worst seasons for the club. Yes for me, too. This is football and life. Sometimes there are ups and downs. I always had problems with my left knee,” Jeje said. “I feel much better now than before. I am eager to get back.”