Young Indian midfielder Jitendra Singh has decided to extend his stay at Jamshedpur FC after having a tremendous season in the Indian Super League. The youngster has penned down a contract with the Men of Steel that will keep him at the club till the end of the 2024 season.
He was surely one of the most underrated and hidden gms from last season. The former India U-17 World Cupper was sensational in cutting the lines and retrieving possession. He acted as a shield for the back four and thwarted many attacks. He was an integral part of Owen Coyle’s system that won them the League winners’ Shield.
Jitendra earlier struggled to make it to the squad in the presence of a foreign centre back pairing and the indispensable fullback pairing of Rikcy Lallawmawma and Laldinliana Renthlei. So he decided to prepare himself as a defensive midfielder and that actually worked in his favour last season. His high work rate and the sharpness in tackling and anticipation as a defender has only elevated his game as a defensive pivot. He mustered 67 tackles last season with 19 interceptions and 10 clearances. He stood up to the task and allowed Coyle to play without a foreigner at the base of the midfield.
The youngster was delighted as he extended terms with the club. He shared how he feels comfortable at the club and how their confidence in him has made him a better player. “The trust set in me by everyone at the club gave me a lot of confidence and it translated into a lot of playing time, especially last season. My overall experience at Jamshedpur FC has shaped me as a better midfielder. Having played in front of the loud and proud fans at the Furnace earlier as well, I am looking forward to coming back to Jamshedpur as a Champion and helping the club bring more silverware.”
A product of the AIFF Elite Academy, Jitendra Singh joined Jamshedpur FC in the 2018 transfer window and was loaned back to Indian Arrows. He played in the I-League and gained a lot of experience facing foreign forwards double his size. He came back to Jamshedpur after his Arrows loan stint and made his debut in the ISL in their 1-0 win over FC Goa. Since then, Jitendra has not looked back.
Having secured the services of the young midfielder head coach Aidy Boothroyd shared how Jitendra Singh was one of the unsung heroes for the club last season and he is looking forward to working with him. “I am extremely delighted that we have secured the services of Jitu after some excellent performances last season, often an unsung hero in many of Jamshedpur’s wins. I am looking forward to working with him, he has the potential to be an excellent player for club and country.”
It will be exciting to see how Jitendra fits in Boothroyd’s system and whether he manages to keep up the consistent from last season.
