ATK host Jamshedpur FC in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday. The defending champions come off the back of two successive defeats, which have them rooted to the eighth position on the points table. With hopes of qualifying for the playoffs gradually fading, the two-time champions need a turnaround of fortune to get past a defensively robust Jamshedpur side.

ATK’s interim head coach Ashley Westwood spoke to the media at the pre-match press conference and began by informing them about the injuries in the squad. “Ryan (Taylor) is suspended as well as injured. Robbie Keane is due back on Sunday. He feels he’s fit and ready to train. I’m sure he’ll hit the ground running soon. Four to six weeks is just a guide for Zequinha’s status, but he could be available before that. So, we have five foreigners to play with,” he revealed.

The 41-year-old went on to explain what has gone wrong for the two-time champions this season. “Obviously, we’ve had some injuries,” he remarked. “We’ve had a little bit of tough luck, seven games on the road of the first 10. There are many reasons why. It takes a lot to gel in a new team together. It was always going to be tough when you put 23 new players together. That’s the challenge as a coach. You have to move forward.”

When asked about his thoughts on making the playoffs, Westwood replied, “We’re as confident as we can be. There was a bit of a reaction in the last game. We were unlucky with the three injuries but there were encouraging signs. The players showed aggression and energy. I’m sure we’re going to build on that tomorrow.”