Igor Stimac. (AP Photo)

CHENNAI: Despite the clamour for his inclusion in the national set-up in certain quarters, ATK midfielder M Soosairaj continues finding himself on the sidelines. The latest instance was on Wednesday when coach Igor Stimac announced India's 26-member squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan and Oman on November 14 and 19 respectively.

Soosairaj has been impressing onlookers over the past three seasons, but his only appearance for India so far came in the King's Cup in June when he came on as a substitute against Curacao.

"I am not thinking about it too much," Soosairaj said on Wednesday, making light of the situation. "I see a lot of people pushing my case. There is a lot of support for my inclusion on social media in particular. It makes me feel very happy. I obviously also feel bad when people keep asking me again and again about why I am not in the Indian team. But there is nothing I can do. I just have to wait for my next chance to prove myself."

While the 24-year-old from Tamil Nadu has had limited contact with Stimac, it is understood that the Croatian wants him to put on weight and add muscle to his lean physique.

"During our ISL game against Hyderabad two weeks ago, Stimac was present in the stands. He saw my brother in the stands and told him that I should put on around 4 kgs. He feels that I am a bit lean and need to bulk up," Soosai informed.

His body structure aside, Soosai should be aided by the fact that he is now playing for two-time ISL champions ATK. Having moved from Jamshedpur in the off-season, he is now playing for a side which regularly competes for the title in India's top division. The move has been challenging, especially since he has been asked to play as a wing-back by coach Antonio Habas, but he is gradually finding his feet. He has started all three games and played his part in ATK's successful start to the season.

"It was difficult for me to adapt to ATK at the start, but I have now gelled with the team. I am playing as a wing back for ATK. I am instinctively an attacking player, but I also have to focus on the defensive side as a wing-back. We are mostly using the 5-3-2 formation and we have a lot of foreigners who are attacking players. So I have had to adjust to this role," said Soosai, who initially made his name with Chennai City FC in the I-League .

Asked whether the change in position for ATK could hamper his ability to contribute goals and assists, Soosairaj disagreed. "The new position is an advantage. If I play as a wing back, I will feel more comfortable when playing just as a winger. It will not be difficult to adjust. I feel I can improve as an all-round player in the new position. I haven't scored in the first three ISL games, but I have had chances to do so. I feel I can still contribute offensively," he observed.

