Ailing Bhutia to return from Portugal

India football captain Baichung Bhutia will return from Portugal after suffering a thyroid-related illness which has kept him out of training for five days.

Bhutia, who has been discharged from the camp to recuperate, has a history of thyroid-related illness. He has lost weight and is feeling weak.

Team sources, however, said there is nothing to worry about as his illness has been properly diagnosed and medication recommended.

Dempo midfielder Climax Lawrence is nursing an injured ankle while his club-mate Samir Naik is yet to join training after being suspected to have a calf muscle pull.

Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya has a bruised ankle too and been recommended a couple of days' rest.

The Indian team, preparing for next year's Asian Cup in Doha, is being put through the paces by coach Bob Houghton.

Houghton is trying to get the players in top fitness with strenuous workouts in the gymnasium and high intensity training but has not been able to go full throttle.

The players have been training since July 1 at Vieira de Leiria, a small town about 200 km from Lisbon on the way to Porto.