Al Nassr’s French injury problems ease ahead of Al Kholood meeting

Al Nassr will have Mohamed Simakan and Abdulrahman Ghareeb available for Thursday’s Saudi Pro League fixture against Al Kholood, although fellow Frenchman Kingsley Coman remains absent because he is not yet fully fit.

Al Nassr host Al Kholood at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh in the 12th round of the Saudi Pro League season.

Saudi journalist Ali Al-Enazi reported 24 hours before the match that Simakan had returned to the squad after recovering from the injury that had kept him out. The French defender has also resumed full team training.

Simakan will not be the only player returning to the group. Saudi Arabia winger Ghareeb has likewise recovered from his injury and is expected to be included.

Coman, however, will miss the game despite returning to collective training on Tuesday. He has not yet reached the required level of fitness to feature.

Both Coman and Simakan were absent from Al Nassr’s previous two Saudi Pro League matches, against Neom and Al-Faisaly, as a result of their injuries.

The pair had initially been expected to miss four matches for the Riyadh club. Two of those fixtures were subsequently postponed: the Saudi Pro League meeting with Al-Ahli and Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates.

Simakan’s return therefore provides a boost to Al Nassr’s defensive options, while Ghareeb’s recovery gives the team another attacking choice for the meeting with Al Kholood. Coman’s continued absence means the club’s French injury concerns have not ended completely, although one of the two affected players is now available again.

Al Nassr go into the match second in the Saudi Pro League table with 25 points. They are two points behind leaders Al Hilal and level on goal difference with third-placed Al-Qadsiah.

Al-Qadsiah have played one more match than Al Nassr, leaving the Riyadh side with the opportunity to strengthen their position when they face Al Kholood on Thursday, 29 October 2026.