IMAGE, MATT KREMKAU FOR EMPIRE OF SOCCER

by DAVE MARTINEZ

With the emergence of Jack Harrison and Tommy McNamara, offseason acquisition Steven Mendoza has become surplus goods for New York City FC.

While minutes have been tough to come by for the Colombian striker, a familiar home may be ready to offer him the playing time he seeks.

In an interview with Goal.com earlier this month, Chennaiyin FC co-owner and Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan said the club would be interested in reuniting with their former striker.

“We’d love to have Mendo back,” Bachchan tells Goal. “Mendo has been a part of the team from the start. We’d love to have him back and we’re going to try our best to try something to get him back.

“Let’s see. It’s too early to speak.”

Mendoza is on the second year of a four-year deal with Brazilian powerhouse Corinthians. He featured for Chennaiyin in their debut 2014 season and returned to the club on loan last year, before his eventual loan to NYCFC. A Chennaiyin fan favorite, Mendoza has scored 17 goals in 25 appearances with the South Indian side. He helped lead the club to an Indian Super League title in 2015 as well.

Mendoza, who missed this weekends match against the Seattle Sounders with injury, has featured in 13 matches for NYCFC this season, earning six starts, scoring a goal and an assist through 644 minutes.