Thomas Partey ruled out of Al-Shabab’s Saudi Pro League clash with Al-Kholood

Thomas Partey will miss Al-Shabab’s Saudi Pro League meeting with Al-Kholood on Wednesday after being given more time to regain full fitness.

The Ghana international, who previously played for Arsenal, joined Al-Shabab at the start of this season on a free transfer. However, he will not be available for the club’s sixth-round fixture as he continues his recovery from a blood collection in his hamstring.

Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah reported that Partey needs additional time before he is ready to return to competitive action. His absence is a setback for Al-Shabab as they look for their first victory of the Saudi Pro League campaign.

Al-Shabab face Al-Kholood on Wednesday evening, with the team currently 15th in the league table. They have collected three points from their opening five matches, recording three draws and two defeats.

Al-Shabab’s search for a win comes against an Al-Kholood side that has made an unbeaten start to the season. The visitors sit eighth with nine points, having won two matches and drawn three.

Partey’s absence means Al-Shabab will continue without the former Arsenal player as they attempt to improve their position in the table. The midfielder joined the Saudi club ahead of the current campaign as a free agent, but an earlier hamstring problem has delayed his involvement.

The injury involved a blood collection in the posterior thigh muscle, and the player has not yet reached the required level of fitness to feature against Al-Kholood. Al-Shabab will therefore have to proceed without him for a match in which they are seeking to turn a run of draws and defeats into their first league success.

Al-Kholood, by contrast, arrive with confidence after avoiding defeat in their first five matches. Their two victories and three draws have left them six points above Al-Shabab before the two sides meet.

Wednesday’s fixture will be the latest opportunity for Al-Shabab to begin climbing away from the lower end of the Saudi Pro League standings. The club have taken points from three games but have not yet secured a win, while their opponents remain unbeaten and occupy a place in the top half of the table.