Al-Nassr Faces Double Setback with Al-Ghamdi Injury
Al-Nassr’s return to Roshn League action has been jolted by a double blow, with young midfielder Rakan Al-Ghamdi sidelined for several weeks at the very moment his senior breakthrough was gathering pace.
Medical tests have confirmed the 21-year-old has suffered a sprained knee ligament along with cartilage bruising, an injury expected to keep him out for between four and six weeks, according to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah.
A breakthrough halted
The timing could hardly be worse for Al-Ghamdi.
He had just earned the trust of Australian coach Ange Postecoglou, who handed him his first-team debut in the AFC Champions League Elite. Al-Ghamdi came on in the second half against UAE side Al-Ain in the opening round, a night that ended in a heavy 4-0 defeat for Al-Nassr but still marked a personal milestone for the youngster.
That appearance hinted at a growing role in the senior squad. Instead, his momentum has been abruptly cut.
Blow for first team and U-21s
The damage is not confined to the first team.
Al-Ghamdi has also been a key figure for Al-Nassr’s under-21 side, and it was with that group that disaster struck. He picked up the injury during the final training session before their clash with Damac last Friday in the Joy League Elite.
Al-Nassr’s U-21s went on to win that match 1-0, but they did so knowing they had lost a player who straddled both squads at a crucial phase of the season.
For the senior side, it removes a fresh option just as Postecoglou had begun to fold him into his plans. For the youth team, it robs them of an important piece at a stage where every available player matters. One injury, two teams hit.
Roshn League push under strain
Al-Nassr sit third in the Roshn League table on 16 points, just two behind leaders Al-Hilal. The margins at the top are thin, and every absence now carries extra weight.
Al-Ghamdi’s injury adds to the technical staff’s problems in the coming weeks, particularly as he was juggling duties with both the first team and the under-21s. His layoff, stretching to at least a month and possibly longer, forces a reshuffle in squad planning on two fronts.
The first-team players are due back in training on Monday evening after being granted a short break following their Asian campaign fixture. Attention now turns to the resumption of the league, with Al-Nassr set to host Al-Diriyah at Al-Awwal Park on 9 October in the eighth round.
The stakes are clear: a title race tightening at the top, a squad feeling the strain, and a young player left watching from the sidelines just when his chance had finally arrived.
