Al Hilal’s Injury Update: A Full House Ahead of the Al Ettifaq Clash

Injury updates and a near-full squad ahead of Al Ettifaq

Italian coach Simone Inzaghi has received encouraging news on several injured players as Al Hilal prepare for their Saudi Pro League Week 5 match with Al Ettifaq. The aim is straightforward: keep climbing the table after a 3-1 league win and pressure the top teams, notably Al Nassr, who sit atop the standings after four rounds.

The club’s official X account published the latest on player fitness during the international break, outlining who has returned to group work and who is still building up. Abdulilah Al-Maliki and Sergej Milinković-Savić have completed their rehabilitation programs and joined the rest of the squad in training. In addition, Brazilian Malcom de Oliveira and Uruguayan Darwin Nunez took part in the initial phase of the training before continuing their individual rehab programs.

With most of the squad back in action, Inzaghi has a broad range of options across the pitch, enabling him to tailor tactics to the opponent and the moment of the season.

Italian imprint

Inzaghi, one of European football’s most respected tacticians, is known for marrying disciplined structure with attacking flexibility. His move to Al Hilal represents a new chapter after his success at Inter Milan, where he emphasized tempo control, versatile build-up play, and tight defensive organization with high-pressing in midfield.

He is renowned for unlocking players’ potential, granting midfielders the freedom to advance while keeping defensive cover intact. The 3-5-2 system he often favors gives the team strategic flexibility—transitioning quickly between defense and attack and allowing full-backs to contribute offensively. This approach suits current Hilal players such as Milinković-Savić, Neves, and Cancelo, who can exploit space and create chances with smart running and precise passing.

Defensive organization and rapid, collective pressing after losing possession are hallmarks of Inzaghi’s methodology. Set-pieces—both attacking and defending—are given particular attention, a trait he has honed over years in Italian football. Off the field, his calm and confident leadership is expected to lift the dressing room’s performance and give the team a clearer European identity while balancing pragmatism with creativity.

Thanks to his extensive continental experience, Inzaghi’s presence at Al Hilal is anticipated to boost the team’s tactical discipline and elevate its overall performance on both the domestic and Asian stages.

Savic’s future

Saudi outlets have been weighing the future of Sergej Milinković-Savić, a central figure for the side in recent seasons. His current contract runs through the end of the season, and renewal discussions are a focal point for the club as European teams monitor his situation on a potential free transfer next summer.

According to the newspaper Al-Yaum, Al Hilal is actively exploring ways to keep Savic, with renewal talks already underway. Despite interest from several Italian clubs, the 30-year-old midfielder has shown a clear desire to remain with Al Hilal, signaling that he values both the club and the project under Inzaghi.

His agent has echoed the sentiment that Savic feels comfortable at the club and prioritizes a renewed deal that would keep him in Riyadh, reinforcing Al Hilal’s plan to maintain a strong core in the engine room of the team.

There is a belief within the club that Savic’s continuity would be pivotal to the squad’s performance, given his influence on build-up play, transition, and goal threat, which are central to Inzaghi’s system.

Dual role

Since arriving from Lazio in the summer of 2023, Sergej Milinković-Savić has established himself as a cornerstone of Al Hilal’s midfield, blending physicality, vision, and an eye for decisive moments. He became a key component in the prior setup under Jorge Jesus, functioning as an advanced midfielder who links defense and attack, delivering smart passes and exploiting space with well-timed runs.

This season, Savic has featured in most of Al Hilal’s matches, contributing to goals and assists across the league and continental competition. His presence helps balance the midfield, allowing teammates more freedom to advance while helping the team recover the ball quickly and maintain pressure when needed.

With the squad nearing full strength, Inzaghi’s options will expand, enabling him to rotate personnel to adapt to different opponents and maintain intensity across a demanding schedule.

In short, Al Hilal’s strategic blend of Italian coaching philosophy and high-caliber midfield talent positions the club to contend on multiple fronts as the season progresses.