INDIAN ACES: The homelanders who will carry the weight as the Highlanders aim for playoff

THE NORTHEAST UNITED team has always had a good number of domestic players, most of them hailing from the region it represents, who have undertaken some of the most crucial roles within the squad.

Many of these players are quite young, still well within their developmental stage, and are meant to have a valuable learning experience through the exposure to games of this level. We have covered certain players like that in our article on the 'hidden gems' in the Highlanders' roster. But there are some in the team who are strategic signings, who are meant to be at the forefront of the battle as the franchise seeks its first semi-final qualification in ISL.

These players are 'star names' in their own rights, and can rival the quality of the foreign players that NEUFC have, and even fight them for a place in the first eleven if necessary. And some of them have been with the franchise for a while now, and developed cult following's among the team's fans. 

Here's a look at some of these Indian players that head coach Nelo Vingada will put a lot of trust on.