Bhutia available for England tour opener

England-based striker Baichung Bhutia will play in the opening game of the national team's English tour on Tuesday after all.

"He will definitely play tomorrow (Tuesday)," All India Football Federation secretary Alberto Colaco said on Monday.

India meet second division Brentford on Tuesday, play first division Nottingham Forest on July 28 and Walsall on August 3, and third division Leyton Orient on July 31.

Bhutia, 23, plays for Bury in the English second division and was named captain for the England tour.

But his participation in India's games was in doubt because the tour clashed with Bury's pre-season preparations.

Colaco said the London-based promoter of the tour informed him that Bhutia would play all the four matches but confirmation was awaited from Indian team officials in England.

Bury's official website said Bhutia has been cleared to play against Brentford.

Bhutia, 23, who became the first Indian to play for an English club by joining Bury last year is vying for a regular place in the first team and has shown encouraging form ahead of the season starting next month.

He scored two goals in Bury's 3-1 win over non-league Radcliffe Borough in a warm-up game last week.

The Indians, who are lying 113th in the FIFA world rankings, are in England for the second straight year to gain the experience of facing tough opposition ahead of the first Afro-Asian games to be held in New Delhi in November.

Bhutia played a crucial role in India's encouraging show in the recent Asian World Cup qualifying games.

They upset a superior United Arab Emirates before finishing third in their four-team group, level with Yemen and just a point behind UAE who qualified for the second round.