The Hero I-League returns after the New Year break and Gokulam Kerala FC, who played their last match on December 16, will play host to sixth-placed Aizawl FC here on Saturday.
What seems to be a mid-table clash can prove to be a boost for both the teams as a win can take one of them into the top three temporarily.
Gokulam Kerala FC will be glad that they will have Andre Ettienne back in the defensive line up after a match's suspension. It is safe to say that the Kerala outfit felt his absence as they went down 2-1 against Mohun Bagan in Kalyani before the long break.
Speaking before the match, Gokulam Kerala FC head coach, Fernando Andres Santiago Varela, said, "The team has a great mentality, strength of overcoming and character, these factors make us strong and we will feel it on the pitch.
"While we made some mistakes against Mohun Bagan, we also had many options to tie and made a very good second half. We have high morale because we defend and we will always defend our style of play to make the people of Kerala proud of us."
"I believe we need a little bit of luck, the match against Punjab would have ended in our favour if the last-minute handball wasn't given. But you can't do much about it, we have to respect the decision."
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