Zakaria Hawsawi injury puts Saudi Arabia’s Qatar clash in doubt

Zakaria Hawsawi is a doubt for Saudi Arabia’s meeting with Qatar after suffering a heavy knee bruise, leaving manager Georgios Donis waiting for further medical tests before deciding whether the attacking option can play.

The Saudi Arabia coaching staff are monitoring the player closely just hours before the match, with uncertainty over whether he will be fit to remain with the squad for the next stage. The report was carried by Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya.

Hawsawi trained in the swimming pool on the day of the report as part of a rehabilitation programme designed to manage the injury. He is due to undergo another assessment tomorrow, when the medical team hope to establish more precisely the extent of the problem and its effect on his movement.

The next test will involve Hawsawi walking on the injured leg. Medical staff will assess the level of pain he experiences while moving before making a final decision on his availability for the Qatar game.

The timing of the injury gives Donis and his staff little room to take risks. Hawsawi’s physical condition will be the decisive factor in determining whether he can be included, particularly with the match approaching and limited time available for him to recover.

The coaching and medical teams are expected to settle the matter after tomorrow’s examination. If the pain subsides, Hawsawi will be allowed to continue preparing for the fixture; if it persists, he will be left out.

His status therefore remains unresolved until the latest test, which will determine whether Donis can call on one of his important attacking choices against Qatar or must cope without him because of the knee injury.