Calcutta: Some of the citybased members of the victorious Indian football team returned on Thursday evening, after having won the AFC Challenge Cup final against Tajikistan on Wednesday

Goalkeeper Subrata Paul, midfielder Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Syed Rahim Nabi landed at the airport in the evening along with Mohun Bagan defender Deepak Mondal.

However, Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri did not return. The ‘big two’ of Calcutta football will be banking on the national team players to boost their chances in the local league.

East Bengal coach Manoranjan Bhattacharjee, speaking earlier in the evening, had said, “The players from the national side in my team, if fit, will certainly make a difference.”