Boost for Harambee Stars as Mutinda resumes training

Harambee Stars technical bench can afford a sigh of relief after Michael Mutinda resumed training on Sunday.

The indefatigable defensive midfielder who has been in a form of his own this season was unavailable when Stars saw off South Sudan 1-0 at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday in a friendly match thanks to a knee injury suffered in camp.

With Stars set to confront Tanzania on Monday in another build up match for the final 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier double against Egypt and Togo, Mutinda's return certainly gives Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee options in the department.

Mulee who started AFC Leopards midfielder Collins Shichenje against the Bright Stars had fewer options after Mutinda was ruled out of the match forcing him to plug in the gap by summoning Nzoia Sugar's Kevin Juma.

"I have been responding well to treatment in camp. I joined the rest of my teammates in camp in training and I hope the doctor will clear me for the forthcoming matches. It wasn't a major concern but the pain is yet to fully subside," he said.

The former Thika United midfielder who was handed his maiden call to the team in August 2016 for the final 2017 Afcon qualifier against Zambia regretted missing the South Sudan encounter.

Football pundits had predicted that the KCB man would have easily walked into the starting team and made his first appearance owing to his form but the injury set back forestall his plan.

"It was painful to sit out of the match. This was an opportunity reserved for local based players but i haven't lost hope. I pray that I recover fully and make it to the team when we play Tanzania and the qualifiers," he rued.