KOLJATA: Injury-ridden Atletico de Kolkata today brought back Mohammed Rafique who had scored an extra time goal to hand them the title in the inaugural ISL football season last year.
The East Bengal mideo, however, was ignored by the franchise in the second edition but with many of its players indisposed ATK were apparently forced to zero in on the 23-year-old.
Rafique will be replacing Lalchhawnkima who is down with dengue, ATK stated in release.
"I welcome Rafique to the squad. I feel he will continue to prove his determination to perform in the ongoing tournament alike last season. His recent performances surely have keeping him match ready. I look forward to work with him," head coach Antonio Lopez Habas said.
Rafique is high on confidence after his stellar show in East Bengal finishing runners-up at the recently-concluded Sheikh Kamal Gold Cup in Bangladesh.
The red-and-gold coach Biswajit Bhattacharya has now approved the player's loan deal.
"I am happy to be part of Atletico de Kolkata for the second season. I'm looking forward to play for this brilliant team and put forward my best to fulfill the expectations of the team placed in me," Rafique said.