Calcutta: When the Salt Lake Stadium hosted the IFA Shield in 2009 on a newly-laid artificial turf, we were told that's the best thing to have happened in a long time.

But thanks to lack of proper maintenance, the condition of the surface worsened and natural grass is on its way back at the stadium.

And more than anyone else, it's the footballers who are not just happy, but also relieved now that they will be able to play on a ground that suits them and don't make them vulnerable to injury. Over the years, quite a lot of players sustained injuries at the artificial grass.

Even in the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL), the likes of Syed Rahim Nabi, Denzil Franco and Narayan Das had all sustained injuries while playing on that surface and had to miss the rest of the tournament.

Atletico de Kolkata's Franco could play just four matches in the ISL before sustaining a knee injury that ruled him out of action for six months. "It was in the match against FC Goa that I picked up the injury. "Look, professional players do want to play in Calcutta because of the footballing culture and ambience there. Now that the artificial grass won't be there any more, players, especially from the other states, will really be very happy," Denzil added.

Nabi, who could only be present for a few minutes before limping off with an ankle injury, said: "We grew up playing in natural grass. So, how do people expect that footballers would be content playing on an artificial surface, that too, a worsening one?

"The under-17 World Cup in 2017 or whatever may be the reason, we are all really glad that natural grass will be back at the venue where I, especially, have plenty of fond memories."

According to Mohun Bagan defender Kinshuk Debnath, "Chances of risking injuries will get minimised on natural grass. That is a very important aspect."

With the work having begun from Sunday, authorities are confident that players will be able to have a new feel - of course, a positive one - of the Salt Lake Stadium once it is ready for play again.

"Apart from just relaying natural grass, there will also be a radical overhaul of the drainage system in order to ensure downpour doesn't affect the ground conditions. Besides that, more bucket seats would be installed.

"Practice grounds along with changing rooms for match officials will also be set up as per the Fifa rules. The deadline is August 31 and we're sure things will be ready by then," Friends of the Stadium CEO Jyotishman Chatterjee said.