Most important thing now is to win, no matter what: Sandesh

Character shown by India in CAFA Nations Cup has lifted the mood, says central defender

- Dhiman Sarkar

Sandesh Jhingan's tryst with the school of hard knocks continues, literally.

The latest in a career that has seen him bounce back twice from anterior cruciate ligament injuries - the first kept him out for 13 months, the second 10 - was a cheekbone fracture that also needed surgery and almost a month away from football. Train too soon and the bone can break again, he was told.

The injury also meant that for the first time in 14 years as a professional, Jhingan needed adjusting to a face mask. "I was waiting for it (the mask) so badly ... I wanted to play as soon as I can," he said.

As the world knows from Kylian Mbappe in the Euros last year, a mask can limit vision, block sweat and be an "absolute horror". For Jhingan, the experience - he played for FC Goa away to FC Istiklol in the Asian Champions League 2 on October 1 - has not been that bad.

"If you wear something new, it requires adjustment. But like everything, when you do it every day, it becomes a habit," he said.

Does wearing one make him a target? "I don't create unexpected scenarios in my mind. And, I say to myself, if it's going to happen, it will. Even if I have a metal armour I am going to break something in my body."