Al Hilal expect Theo Hernandez return in October after groin injury

Al Hilal are expected to regain the services of Theo Hernandez in about a month, with the defender still recovering from a groin injury, according to Saudi newspaper Okaz.

Hernandez is currently following a medical and rehabilitation programme after sustaining the injury during Al Hilal’s postponed Saudi Pro League meeting with Al Ahli Saudi FC. The fixture was played as part of the rearranged third round of the competition.

The report says Hernandez is scheduled to return for Al Hilal’s match against Al-Ittihad on Saturday, 10 October. That game is due to take place during the eighth round of the Saudi Pro League.

The France international has already missed a number of Al Hilal matches because of the problem. He was absent when Al Hilal faced Al Shabab in the derby during the fifth round of the league.

He also missed Al Hilal’s sixth-round fixture against Neom. His period on the sidelines is set to continue for the club’s upcoming seventh-round match against Al Taawoun on Saturday.

Hernandez will additionally be unavailable for Al Hilal’s meeting with Qatar’s Al Gharafa on Tuesday. That match is part of the opening round of the AFC Champions League Elite.

His return against Al-Ittihad would therefore come after a period of roughly one month away from competitive action, provided his recovery continues as planned. Until then, Al Hilal will have to manage without the defender in both domestic and continental fixtures.

The injury was sustained in the match against Al Ahli Saudi FC, which had been postponed from the third round of the Saudi Pro League. Since then, the player has remained under treatment and has begun rehabilitation as he works towards a return.

Al Hilal’s schedule during his absence includes the league meeting with Al Taawoun and the AFC Champions League Elite opener against Al Gharafa, before the planned date of Hernandez’s comeback.

The defender’s next expected appearance is the fixture against Al-Ittihad on 10 October, in the eighth round of the Saudi Pro League.