Despite being in excellent form in the recently-concluded Durand Cup and ongoing ISL, Jithin MS has been ignored by chief national men’s coach Manolo Marquez for their forthcoming FIFA friendly match against Vietnam on 12th October. 

But Jithin, the ‘golden ball’ winner in the Durand Cup, does not seem to feel about the incident as deprivation. Rather he seems feeling motivated after the denial from the chief national coach. 

Speaking over the phone, the 26-year-old attacking midfielder from Kerala divulged, "First of all I did not expect I would get the national call-up. I would have been happy if I was called up as playing for India is my dream." 

He continued, "But now I feel I will have to become more consistent in the ISL to draw the national coach's attention before the senior national team's next engagements."

Jithin, the son of a coconut climber from Ollur village in Thrissur drew the attention of the Kerala football fraternity first in 2018. Representing Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, Jithin emerged as the top-scorer while helping his college to the TNIE GOAL title. 

He then broke into the national scene guiding Kerala to their first Santosh Trophy title in Kolkata after 14 years. 

Jithin created a sensation in Kerala football, becoming the first footballer from the state to have signed for Kerala Blasters against a transfer fee, paid to his previous club FC Kerala.

But that turned later into one of the most unfortunate stories in his football journey so far. He did not get the opportunity to play a single match for Kerala Blasters during his two-year tenure at the club!

His journey got a pick-up after he signed for Gokulam FC. He played 23 matches for Gokulam FC scoring five goals during his two seasons with Gokulam FC before signing for NorthEast United FC last season.