In Goa for the national camp, India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia missed the first day’s training session, and so did Mahesh Gawli, Sameer Naik and NS Manju.

“Both Gawli and Naik are recovering from injuries and it was learnt that the club has requested the AIFF to give them time to recover. Bhutia is also carrying an injury and is expected to fly to Kolkata for treatment on Friday,” a source close to the team said.

The footballers left the gymnasium and hit the training ground on Thursday. Camping in Goa for the past three days, the players had a normal training session under the watchful eyes of coach Bob Houghton and his assistants in Cuncolim, Goa on Thursday.

“Since it was the first day, it was not very intense,” said a player after the first day.

The team was scheduled to play a friendly against Iraq in the first week of December but due to problems in their country, Iraq’s participation hung in balance.