When the Clock Strikes Injury: Al Nassr Lose a Star Weeks Before a Pivotal Derby

Context Before the Big Match

Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus of Al Nassr received a painful blow a few days before the highly anticipated Round 5 clash with Al Fateh in the Roshan Saudi Pro League, scheduled for Saturday.

Initial medical tests cited by the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadhiah show left-back Saad Nasser suffering a tear in the hamstring, penciling in a 4- to 6-week layoff from football action.

The 24-year-old felt strain at the site of a prior injury during the friendly against Diriyah, a match the team lost 1-2, which forced Jesus to substitute him and bring on Owad Aman.

The Portuguese coach is expected to receive the final medical report ahead of the team’s main training session on Wednesday to map out a rehabilitation plan.

Back-to-Back Woes Ahead of a Busy October

The absence of Nasser represents a fresh setback for Jesus, who had counted on the left-back to shore up the defense amid a congested schedule balancing domestic league duties and continental competition. The player had just begun to regain match fitness after a previous injury.

Since arriving from Cooperation in the latest transfer window, Nasser had featured in only two official games: 28 minutes against Al Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League and 20 minutes against Istiklol Dushanbe in the AFC Champions League group stage, before another spell of injury sidelined him.

His transfer to Al Nassr reportedly cost around 40 million Saudi riyals, with a contract through summer 2028, making this injury a worrying blow for an administration betting on his physical and technical prowess on the left flank.

Even though the friendly defeat to Diriyah was not a competitive fixture, it ended an unbeaten streak to start the season for the club, which sits on top of the Saudi Pro League with 12 points from four games after a valuable 2-0 win in the “Round Three Derby” against defending champions Al-Ittihad.

Regardless of the friendly context, the setback and the Nasser injury marked a double challenge for Jesus as the team heads into a congested period domestically and in Asia.

New News from the Medical Front and a Possible Return

In better news, the same report noted that Sami Al-Najai could be nearing a return after a long layoff due to an ACL injury. The 28-year-old midfielder has started solo ball work for the first time since surgery, a big step toward rejoining squad training in the coming weeks. Al-Najai has appeared 112 times for Al Nassr, scoring 13 goals and providing 15 assists in official matches.

Najai was one of the standout players in the 2023-24 season, featuring in 30 games with two goals and three assists before his injury halted progress. A product of Al Nassr’s academy, he has had loan spells with Qadsia and Damac before cementing a place in the first team.

Depth of Injuries Keeps Growing

Despite Najai’s impending return, Jesus still confronts a growing casualty list affecting both the defense and attack. Among the sidelined is Saad Haqawi, who is out with a grade-one hamstring tear sustained while playing for Saudi Arabia’s U20 at the World Cup in Chile.

Haqqawi is expected to remain out at least until early November, which would keep him out of crucial league and continental fixtures, including matches against Al Fateh, Jao India in the AFC CL phase 2, and upcoming King Cup ties.

Abdul Malik Al-Gaber is also sidelined after knee cartilage surgery in the opening phase of the preseason; he is currently undergoing rehabilitation with hopes of a full return to training soon.

Tough Road Ahead for Jesus

The Nasser injury and the long injury list force Jesus to rethink personnel and minutes, potentially relying on younger players to cover the affected flanks and midfield during October and November’s packed calendar across domestic and Asian duties.

Yet Al Nassr remains competent, with Cristiano Ronaldo continuing to shine. As Najai edges closer to a comeback and more players show signs of improvement, Jesus hopes to maintain balance and stability through the end of the year.

Punchlines for the week: If injuries were a transfer window, this one would be a blockbuster—only the players keep refusing the contract. And for the calendar, well, it’s so crowded that even the hamstring filed for a calendar loan.