Jason Cummings goes up against the ARMY in madcap India debut but leans on Messi meeting to keep him right

Jason Cummings insists taking on Lionel Messi means he has no fears over taking on the BANGLADESHI ARMY in his first game for Mohun Bagan.

The former Hibs, Rangers, Dundee and Scotland star made the lucrative switch from Australia to India and is preparing to make his debut in the Durand Cup - the fifth-oldest tournament in the world. Bizarrely, he will make his bow for his new club a week today in their home city of Kolkata against the Bangladesh Army football team in the first game of the competition.

But Australia striker Cummings reckons coming up against World Cup hero Messi gave him the confidence to do anything in football. He said: "I'm a big game player. The whole experience of sharing a pitch with Messi during the World Cup was incredible and to meet him after was fantastic. He's at another level.

"We played against France and Australia in Qatar. I loved every second of it. I can tell the guys here how good it was. It will put me in good stead in my career. The whole World Cup experience has made me a better player and as I said, it will help me here. But again, meeting Messi was special for me and it felt really awesome.

"I can't wait to get started in the Durand Cup and I am really looking forward to the derby match against East Bengal too. I watched videos of it before I came here and the atmosphere looked incredible. The fans over here are crazy!"