Having had a less than a flattering record so far, NorthEast
United FC will aim to improve its tally this season and is expected to cross beyond the semi
finals, which it lost in 2018-19.

The team, owned by actor John Abraham, was founded in 2014
and since then has finished twice at the bottom place in the tournament. It
finished last in the 2014 and 2017-18 seasons.

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The team has undergone a near overhaul this time. The almost refurbished team has 19 new faces, having booted out 15 players from the squad which played the last season.

In all its six campaigns so far, the best for the
Highlanders was 2018-19 campaign when it made it to the semi finals, only to be
defeated by Bengaluru FC.

Among the faces introduced in the team are three foreign
players, who will bring to the side a veteran’s experience of playing in the
top-tier football in Europe.

Both Idrissa Sylla and Kwesi Appiah, who have made their way
into the northeast team, have played at the national level for Ghana.

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The 29-year-old Sylla has played 27 matches for Ghana scoring
five goals. The striker has had the experience of playing for several European
clubs, including those in Belgium and England.

The 30-year-old Appiah has a decade long experience of
playing in English clubs, including at Crystal Palace, a top tier club in the
country. The striker has played seven matches for his national team since 2015,
scoring two goals.

Machado, Portugese winger, has played for a number of clubs
in his country.

One of the team’s biggest misfortunes has been not having a
stable manager to keep the ship steady. The team has seen the backs of eight
coaches since its founding, and is now entering the tournament with a new coach
in Gerard Nus.

The Spanish national has not had a sterling career as a head
coach, but has the experience assisting Rafa Benitez at Liverpool. He was the
head of Rayo Oklahoma City, a second-tier club in the US, and Irtysh Pavlodar,
a top-tier one in Kazakhstan.

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The team will begin its campaign playing against Mumbai City on November
21.

Northeast United Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gurmeet, Nikhil Deka, Sanjiban Ghosh, Subhasish Roy.

Defenders: Ashutosh Mehta, Benjamin Lambot, Dylan Fox, Gurjinder Kumar, Mashoor  Shereef, Nabin Rabha, Nim Dorjee, Provat Lakra, Rakesh Pradhan, Wayne Vaz.

Midfielders: Federico Gallego, Imran Khan, Khasa Camara, Lalengmawia, Lalrempuia Fanai, Pragyan Gogoi, Rochharzela.

Forwards: Britto PM, Idrissa Sylla, Neenthoinganba Meetei, Kwesi Appiah, Lalkhawpuimawia, Luis Machado, Suhair Vaddakepeedika.