Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad has confirmed his return to full fitness after a lengthy injury layoff, assuring Morocco head coach Walid Regragui of his availability for upcoming national team duties.
The young centre-back, who had been sidelined for several months following knee ligament surgery midway through last season, has now fully recovered and resumed full training.
According to sources, Riad personally reached out to Regragui to relay the positive update, having been given medical clearance by Crystal Palace’s medical team to return to competitive action.
Riyad’s absence was felt both at club and international levels, forcing Regragui to make defensive adjustments during recent national team camps.
The Moroccan coach was compelled to call up several replacements from the domestic league, including Nahdat Berkane defender Abdelhak El Assal, to fill the gaps in his backline.
Regragui has been grappling with a string of defensive injuries in recent months, losing key players like Nayef Aguerd, Noussair Mazraoui, and Romain Saiss—an issue that disrupted his tactical setup and caused considerable frustration.
With Riyad now fit and other defenders gradually returning, Morocco’s defensive ranks are set to receive a significant boost ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will host.
