SC East Bengal have secured the services of young Brazilian striker Marcelo Ribeiro on loan from Portuguese club Gil Vicente FC till the end of the season, subject to clearances, the club announced on Monday. SC East Bengal have already released Nigerian striker Daniel Chima Chukwu.

Marcelo made his debut for Gil Vicente FC last year in August. The 24-year old had previously played for Spanish clubs Burgos CF and Sanse.

“I am pleased to join SC East Bengal. It is one of the biggest clubs in India and I am really looking forward to joining the team and help them in the league,” he said.

SC East Bengal announced Spaniard Mario Rivera as their head coach for the remainder of the ISL VIII on January 1. The Spaniard is on quarantine in Goa at this point in time.

SC East Bengal take on Jamshedpur FC in Bambolim on Tuesday in Rennedy Singh’s last match as interim head coach. Under Rennedy, SC East Bengal have been very organised defensively.

In the last game, they held defending champions Mumbai City FC and that was the first clean sheet for the basement team.

Rennedy will be without the services of foreign defenders Tomislav Mrcela and Franjo Prce, both of whom are nursing injuries. The team suffered another setback in the last game when Joyner Lourenco picked up a knock.

“Football is about attacking and defending together. What we do, has to be collective. It is a great opportunity for the boys who have not got many chances to show that they are equally good, owing to the injuries we have. I have to play with an all-Indian starting line-up tomorrow (Tuesday). I am very confident that the players will give their best,” Rennedy said.