Kerala Blasters midfielder Vibin Mohanan has earned his maiden call-up to the senior national squad for India's upcoming friendly against Malaysia at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad on November 18.
Fellow Thrissur native Jithin MS, who plays for NorthEast United, has also been added to head coach Manolo Marquez' 26-member squad, which was announced by the All India Football Federation on Tuesday.
Vibin, who has been part of the Indian set-up across different age groups, has yet to attend a senior national camp. He is the ony Kerala Blasters player in the squad that will assemble for a camp in Hyderabad on November 11. Vibin was instrumental in some of Blasters' best performances this season.
Jithin, who plays as a winger, has had three assists for NorthEast in the Indian Super League this season. The Kerala duo will be hoping to make the final squad and possibly play in the friendly.
India squad:
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Aakash Sangwan, Anwar Ali, Asish Rai, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh Naorem, Sandesh Jhingan.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Jithin MS, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Vibin Mohanan.
Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Farukh Choudhary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, Vikram Partap Singh.
