Derby Day Blues: Ittihad Lose Another Star Ahead of Jeddah Clash
5 March 2026
Local absences disrupt the Tigers ahead of the Jeddah derby with Al-Ahli, mirroring the absence of their international striker Saleh Al-Shehri.
Injury list and derby context
Al-Ittihad have suffered another setback ahead of the Jeddah derby with Al-Ahli, mirroring the absence of their international striker Saleh Al-Shehri.
The match is scheduled for Friday, at Enmaa Stadium in Jeddah, as part of the 25th round of the Roshen Pro League.
According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya, Awad Al-Nashri, the club's midfielder, will not be part of coach Sergio Conceicao's plans for the derby.
The midfielder remains sidelined with an injury sustained in the February 24 clash with Al-Hazem in round 10 of the Pro League, delaying his return to action.
The injury also caused him to miss the February 27 game against Al-Khaleej, and he is currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Saleh Al-Shehri status and Nashri’s usage
Nashri won't be the first to miss for the Al-Ittihad camp, as reports indicate that striker Saleh Al-Shehri will also be unavailable despite returning to team training last Sunday.
Conceicao had started to rely on Awad Al-Nashri recently, featuring him in 13 matches this season for a total of 391 minutes, without a goal or an assist.
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