NEUFC sign Andre Bikey to replace injured captain Miguel Garcia

AN INJURY IN THE opening match against Kerala Blasters led to trusted NorthEast United defender and captain Miguel Garcia being ruled out for the rest of the ISL. The franchise, which continues to struggle to get out of a bad start to the season, has signed a replacement in Andre Bikey.

This 30 year old Cameroonian player can play both as a defender and a defensive midfielder. Starting his career from the B team of La Liga side Espanyol, Bikey played for many clubs in the Portuguese and Russian top two divisions.

It was from Lokomotiv Moscow that he was loaned out to Reading FC in 2006-07, who were playing their first ever season in the Premier League. He made 15 league appearances for them and made a full transfer to the English club the following summer. 

From here on he played for multiple clubs in the Premier League and Championship including Burnley, Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic. He has also made 25 appearances for the Cameroonian national team.

His diversity and mobility in the field, coupled with his physique (6 foot tall, muscular) gives Cesar Farias a number of options regarding where and how to deploy him. He has reached Guwahati already, and has been included in the starting line-up against Chennaiyin FC.

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