Watkins given Al-Hilal starting role for Al-Shabab derby

Ollie Watkins will make his first start for Al-Hilal when they visit Al-Shabab in the Roshn Saudi League on Friday, with new signing Gabriel Martinelli beginning the Riyadh derby on the substitutes’ bench.

The match will take place at SHG Arena in Riyadh in the fifth round of the competition. Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi has selected Watkins to lead the attack after the England international made an impact as a substitute in his previous appearance for the club.

Watkins came off the bench and scored in Al-Hilal’s 3-0 victory over Al-Ahli on Tuesday in the third round of the league. That performance has earned him a place in the starting XI for the meeting with Al-Shabab, giving him the opportunity to lead the line from the opening whistle for the first time since joining the Saudi Arabian club.

The former Aston Villa striker will operate alongside Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville and Sultan Mandash in the attacking trio. Martinelli, who recently arrived from Arsenal, has been named among the substitutes and will have to wait for his first start for Al-Hilal.

Inzaghi has also made a change in midfield by restoring Mohamed Kanno to the starting team. Kanno will play alongside Serbia international Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves.

Nasser Al-Dawsari has moved to the bench as a result of the midfield adjustment. The decision means Inzaghi has opted for a combination of experience and recent attacking momentum as Al-Hilal attempt to maintain their perfect position at the top of the table.

There are also changes in defence. Hassan Al-Tambakti and Moteb Al-Harbi have been selected from the start to cover for Ali Lajami and France international Theo Hernandez, both of whom are unavailable because of injury.

Al-Hilal arrive at the derby as league leaders with 12 points. They are ahead of second-placed Al-Nassr only on goal difference, while Al-Shabab sit 13th with three points from their opening matches.

The fixture therefore brings together two teams at very different ends of the early standings. Al-Hilal will look to protect their position at the summit, while Al-Shabab will be seeking a result to improve a difficult start to their league campaign.

The Riyadh club published its matchday squad and starting line-up before kick-off, confirming Watkins’ promotion to the first team and Martinelli’s place among the substitutes.

Al-Hilal’s starting XI includes Watkins, Summerville and Mandash in attack, with Kanno, Milinkovic-Savic and Neves in midfield. Al-Tambakti and Al-Harbi start in defence, while Al-Dawsari, Martinelli, Lajami and Hernandez are among the players not selected to begin the match.