East Bengal are unlikely to have star midfielder Saul Crespo available for selection in their match against NorthEast United. The Spaniard has been a mainstay for the Kolkata giants and has played every game since joining the club last summer.

The news comes as a blow for the Red and Gold who are light in the middle of the park with Souvik Chakraborty also out through suspension. The game against the Highlanders will be crucial for East Bengal as it is a direct battle for the playoffs. A win will put them in the sixth spot on the ISL table for the very first time.

Along with Crespo, new signing Victor Vazquez and Nandha Kumar has also missed training sessions today. However, the pair are likely to feature in the next game. Meanwhile, Mahesh Naorem has been training normally since suffering a head injury in the match with Mohun Bagan.