India's new chief football coach Bob Houghton on Sunday said that he wants Baichung Bhutia back in the national team, but would have further discussions with the star striker to know whether he would be available for the August 16 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.
"I don't know whether he'll be available. I'll speak to him. But if you ask me whether we want him in the team, I'll say 'absolutely'," Houghton said in Kolkata.
However, the coach made it clear that if Bhutia wants to play the match, he had to report to the camp by Tuesday.
The Englishman said that he had spoken to Bhutia before the Indian team left for the Vancouver trip last month.
"He then told me that he needed rest. This I found quite natural, as he has been playing for a long time, and taking a lot of pressure as well."
Houghton said it is not an issue that Bhutia, if he indeed made himself available, would join the ongoing camp later than the others.
"We don't have any such ego problems. Our only aim is to see that we get the best set of players."
The seasoned coach, who had earlier been in charge of the national teams of China and Uzbekistan, said that the other players in the camp are looking forward to Bhutia being there.
"He is very popular with the footballers."
The Mohun Bagan striker had earlier expressed his desire to call time on his international career, but AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi requested him to prolong his career till the Doha Asian Games in "national interest."
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