It seems that the absence of Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović, who plays for Al-Hilal, will not be limited to the Saudi Super Match against Al-Nassr due to his injury in the match against Al-Shabab, but may extend to the end of the current season, according to specialists' predictions. Mitrović, aged 29, left the game injured during the first half of the match against Al-Shabab that took place last Saturday in round 25 of the Saudi league.
Saudi media reports predict that Mitrović will miss the match against Al-Nassr scheduled for April 8 in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup, with the Serbian striker set to undergo medical examinations later today (Sunday) to determine the specifics of his injury.
Dr. Ayman Al-Hammad, a consultant in sports injury treatment and rehabilitation, revealed his expectations regarding Mitrović's absence duration in an early morning statement on the "Saudi" channel. He stated, "Mitrović's injury is a tear in the hamstring, and there are three degrees of this injury. It is difficult for this injury to be of the first or third degree, so I expect it to be a second-degree tear."
He added, "The rehabilitation program after such injuries consists of 6 phases, so Mitrović's absence may extend for at least a month and a half, and the duration may be longer if the injury occurs at the tendon-bone junction."
The doctor warned, "If Al-Hilal rushes Mitrović's return after this injury, there could be a risk to the player, as a recurrence of the injury could lead to an absence of up to 3 months."
He elaborated, "We might see Mitrović walking soon, and he may start jogging in training within 25 days, but a professional player cannot return to matches just because the pain has subsided; a strong physical rehabilitation is necessary."
Dr. Al-Hammad concluded, expressing concern for Al-Hilal players regarding muscle injuries in the upcoming period due to the match congestion, and he hopes for reduced training loads.
Mitrović's absence is a significant loss for Al-Hilal, as the Serbian striker has scored 33 goals in 36 matches across all competitions since the beginning of the current season, which contributed to "The Leader" winning 30 consecutive matches. Mitrović has scored 22 goals in the Saudi Professional League, with only Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of Al-Nassr, surpassing him with 26 goals.
Al-Hilal faces major football challenges in the upcoming period, including matches against Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ain, in the Saudi Super Cup, King's Cup, and AFC Champions League, respectively.
