Bhutia still recovering from hamstring injury

India captain and East Bengal forward Bhaichung Bhutia, recovering from a hamstring injury, will take two more weeks to be match fit, the red-and-gold coach Philippe de Ridder said in Kolkata on Thursday.

"He may get fit within a week but it will take him one more week to attain match fitness. We will watch and see before taking a decision on him," de Ridder said during their team's practice session.

East Bengal are without a win for last 12 matches and have suffered three successive losses in the AFC Cup. Bhutia suffered the injury during their round 16 I-League match against Mahindra United as the star striker could not travel with the team for their AFC Cup tie against Al Nejmeh in Lebanon.

Later, Bhutia missed an I-League match against Air India and then against Al Qadsia of Kuwait in their AFC Cup match on Wednesday.