Chennaiyin FC head Coach Thomas Brdaric provided injury updates ahead of their clash against Mumbai city FC at the Mumbai Football Arena in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) on Saturday. The head coach also hinted about their work in the upcoming January transfer window as they look forward to finishing in the top six.

Nasser El Khayati is the leading goal scorer in the Hero Indian Super League 2022-23 but the visitors will miss the midfielder's contribution as he picked up an injury. Kwame Karikari, who scored the opening goal for the club this season was also unavailable ahead of the clash.

All is not lost for the Marina Machans as their captain Anirudh Thapa and Jiteshwor Singh are fit for the next game and Bradric applauded their effort to be back into the squad as they have invested a lot of time.

Here are the excerpts from the Brdaric's conference:

Any witness update on the players. Any players unavailable for the next match or has anyone returned?

Unfortunately. Nasser (El Khayati) won't be in our squad (for Mumbai City FC) because he got another injury. It's a pity. We have to replace him and we wish him all the best for his recovery. Of course, he's disappointed because is in very good shape. We need him as a leader and his abilities. He gave us more volume but now we have to think about other players and how we can join and how we can face Mumbai City FC with those players who are fit

When is El Khayati expected to be back?

This is the case. We don't know exactly. We got the information about his injury on Wednesday. Now it's the approach to how we can deal with that. We have a little bit of time after the Mumbai city FC match but I don't know exactly whether  it's possible and able to bounce back for the next upcoming match in Jamshedpur FC or not. We will do everything that he can to bounce back fast. But the recovery has to be done in the first position.

Any injury updates about Karikari?

Yes, he will miss the next match as well, like Nasser el khayati. But other players like Jiteshwor Singh and Anirudh Thapa are fit. I am happy for them because they invest a lot of time to be back in the squad. So now we have to look ahead and be confident. So we can catch points in Mumbai.

We have only ten days’ time for the January transfer window. So do you have any plans, will there be any incomings and outgoings in the squad?

We are working in advance every time what we can do, what we can improve. We are in process with the management. We have a big squad. We will go over the speeches in the next phase and we have a little bit more. With the approach. How we can save how we can. Improve in kind of spells, to be more effective in these kinds of positions and hope we can be more stronger and how we can reduce our expenses and these are all questions that we are discussing the next day after the Mumbai city FC match. We go home and discuss these kinds of topics.