Al Hilal reshuffle opens door for Al-Dawsari against Al Fateh

Gabriel Martinelli’s injury could give Al Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari the opportunity to make his first domestic start in 163 days when the league leaders face Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League.

The match is scheduled for 21:00 on Saturday, 31 October 2026, in the 12th round of the competition. Martinelli is expected to remain unavailable, while Dutch forward Summerville is set to return to the starting line-up after missing Al Hilal’s most recent match against Al Shamal because of suspension.

Martinelli’s absence is a setback for Al Hilal, but it may also help manager Simone Inzaghi resolve a long-standing issue in his attacking selection. The reduced number of options could allow Al-Dawsari to reclaim a starting position in domestic competition.

The 35-year-old last began a league match against Al Fayha on 21 May, in the final round of last season. Since then, he has missed eight league fixtures against Al Faisaly, Al Fayha, Al Ahli, Al Shabab, Neom, Al Taawoun, Al Ittihad and Al Raed in the King’s Cup round of 32.

After returning from injury, Al-Dawsari was used sparingly by Inzaghi as part of a gradual recovery programme. He played one minute against Al Hazem and two minutes against Al Qadsiah before being given a longer run in the AFC Champions League Elite.

Al-Dawsari started against Al Shamal on Monday in the third round of the competition and scored Al Hilal’s only goal in a 3-1 defeat. His performance offered an encouraging indication of his fitness and suggested he could still provide an attacking threat.

Martinelli’s absence may therefore lead to Al-Dawsari’s return to the starting line-up against Al Fateh, particularly with Al Hilal requiring attacking players capable of influencing the match. The final decision, however, will rest with Inzaghi and his coaching staff, depending on the player’s physical condition and their tactical assessment.

Al Hilal sit top of the Saudi Pro League with 27 points and also have a game in hand against Al Riyadh from the ninth round. The fixture against Al Fateh will be important to their attempt to maintain their position at the summit, while Al-Dawsari will hope to complete his return to a more prominent role after a lengthy absence and a carefully managed reintroduction.