Mohammed Al-Deayea backs Al Owais to replace injured Yassine Bounou for Al Hilal

Mohammed Al-Deayea says Al Hilal will not be weakened by the absence of Yassine Bounou when they face Al Taawoun in the Roshn Saudi League on Saturday.

The Morocco goalkeeper is set to miss the seventh-round fixture after suffering an injury before Al Hilal’s previous match against Neom, which they lost 2-0.

Al-Deayea, an Al Hilal legend, believes Mohammed Al Owais is fully capable of stepping in despite being criticised for his performance in that defeat.

“Al Hilal will not be affected by Bounou’s absence against Al Taawoun because we have Mohammed Al Owais, the Saudi Arabia national team goalkeeper,” Al-Deayea said on the programme Dorina Ghair.

“Al Owais has great ability. It is true that I criticised him in the previous match, but he remains a great goalkeeper and will give us considerable strength in the coming period.”

Al-Deayea added: “Al Hilal are not affected by the absence of anyone in goal, and I hope we can achieve victory against Al Taawoun.”