Inzaghi selects Watkins for Al Hilal’s Saudi Clasico meeting with Al Ahli

Simone Inzaghi has decided to name new signing Ollie Watkins in Al Hilal’s starting line-up for Tuesday’s Saudi Clasico against traditional rivals Al Ahli, just two days after the English striker completed his move to the club.

Al Hilal host Al Ahli at Kingdom Arena in a rearranged match from the third round of the Roshn Saudi League. The fixture will mark Watkins’ first appearance for his new club, and he is expected to lead the attack from the start.

Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiya reported that Inzaghi had settled on handing Watkins an immediate starting role after Al Hilal formally announced the transfer. The decision means the forward could make his debut only hours after arriving at the club and completing the formalities of his move.

Al Hilal announced on Sunday that they had signed Watkins from Aston Villa. Reports in the Saudi and international media have put the value of the deal at approximately 60m euros.

Watkins’ inclusion would represent a rapid introduction to Saudi football, with the striker moving directly into the starting XI for one of Al Hilal’s most significant domestic fixtures. The match against Al Ahli is being played as a postponed league encounter rather than as part of the original third-round schedule.

The England international is also set to take on an important role in Al Hilal’s plans for the new season. He has arrived to become the club’s first-choice striker following the departures of Karim Benzema, Darwin Nunez and Marcos Leonardo during the current summer transfer window.

Those exits left Al Hilal needing a new main attacking option, and Watkins’ arrival has been followed by an immediate decision over his involvement. Inzaghi is now prepared to use the former Aston Villa forward from the opening whistle against Al Ahli, despite the short period between the transfer being completed and the match taking place.

The fixture at Kingdom Arena therefore carries an added focus on Watkins, who could begin his Al Hilal career in one of the club’s headline domestic contests. His selection would give him the chance to make his first contribution to the team as the new leading striker, while also making his debut in a match against one of the club’s traditional rivals.

Al Hilal’s decision to move quickly with Watkins reflects the need to fill the attacking position vacated by Benzema, Nunez and Marcos Leonardo. The 60m-euro signing is now in line to start the delayed Roshn Saudi League meeting with Al Ahli on Tuesday.