Al-Ittihad welcome back Saad Al-Mousa for Al Hilal derby after 11-month absence

Al-Ittihad defender Saad Al-Mousa is set to return to the squad for Saturday’s Roshn Saudi League classic against Al Hilal, nearly a year after suffering a serious ankle injury.

Al-Ittihad travel to Kingdom Arena in Riyadh to face their traditional rivals in the eighth round of the competition. The match is expected to see Al-Mousa included in the visitors’ squad for the first time in 11 months, according to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah.

The Saudi defender fractured his ankle in November last year during training before Al-Ittihad’s meeting with Al Ahli in the eighth round of the Roshn Saudi League. The injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season and began a lengthy period of rehabilitation.

Al-Mousa underwent surgery in London before following an extended recovery programme. He later returned to group training as he worked towards regaining full fitness and competing for a place in the first team.

Al-Ittihad head coach Jens Wissing has managed his return carefully. As part of that process, Al-Mousa played in several matches for the club’s Under-21 side in the Jowy Elite League, allowing him to build up match fitness after his long absence.

Despite his return to the squad, Al-Mousa is not expected to start against Al Hilal. His time away from competitive football means the coaching staff are likely to reintroduce him gradually rather than immediately place him in the starting line-up for such a high-profile fixture.

His availability nevertheless provides Al-Ittihad with an important defensive option for the remainder of the season. Al-Mousa had been a regular starter during the season before last, when he partnered Portugal international Danilo Pereira in the centre of defence.

The defender’s return comes as Al-Ittihad prepare for one of the most significant fixtures of the league campaign. While he may have to wait for his first start after recovering from the ankle fracture, his inclusion represents the latest stage of a rehabilitation process that began almost a year ago.