Al Ittihad’s Marbella training camp hit by fresh injury concerns after Al Ghamdi ACL blow

Al Ittihad’s pre-season camp in Marbella has been further disrupted by fitness problems, with three more players ruled out of action shortly after Hamed Al Ghamdi suffered a serious knee injury.

The Saudi Pro League side confirmed on Saturday that midfielder Al Ghamdi has sustained a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. The injury occurred during Al Ittihad’s 3-2 win over South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in a friendly played last Tuesday.

Soon after announcing the extent of Al Ghamdi’s setback, the Jeddah club revealed that three additional squad members had also been sidelined with different issues, forcing them to miss Saturday’s friendly against Spanish club Las Palmas.

Three players ruled out of Las Palmas friendly

Al Ittihad said Nigerian forward George Elinenghna is unavailable due to acute tonsillitis accompanied by a high fever. He is being monitored by the club’s medical staff, who will determine when he can safely resume full group training.

Right-back Muhannad Al Shanqeeti is also out after experiencing pain in his right knee following Saturday’s morning training session. He has begun a treatment programme overseen by the medical department as he works towards a return.

The third absentee is midfielder Mohammed Fallatah, who is suffering from lower abdominal pain. He is currently following an individual rehabilitation plan and is expected to rejoin collective training once his recovery is complete in the coming period.

Al Ittihad did not provide specific timelines for the return of Elinenghna, Al Shanqeeti or Fallatah, but confirmed all three are under continuous medical supervision at the camp.

Final friendlies and start of competitive season

The friendly against Las Palmas forms part of Al Ittihad’s external training camp in Marbella as they prepare for the new campaign.

Following the Las Palmas match, the Saudi side are scheduled to play one final friendly in Spain against Real Mallorca on 30 July, before the squad returns to Jeddah to conclude pre-season preparations.

Al Ittihad’s first official fixture of the new season will be against Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates on 11 August. That match is a play-off tie in the qualifying stage for the AFC Champions League Elite, and will determine whether the Saudi club progresses to the main phase of the continent’s revamped top-tier competition.