Nasr’s Hadeed ruled out of action for six months

Midfielder set for spell on the sidelines following knee surgery

Dubai — Al Nasr’s Fahad Hadeed has been ruled out for six month having had knee surgery that seems set to keep him on the sidelines until the New Year.

Al Nasr’s Fahad Hadeed (right) and Al Wasl’s Fabio De Lima vie for the ball during the Arabian Gulf League match earlier this season. — KT file

Hadeed damaged his anterior cruciate ligament during the Blue Wave’s President’s Cup semifinal against Al Shabab last month, when Ivan Jovanovic’s squad ultimately prevailed on penalties at Al Maktoum Stadium.

That victory saw Nasr contest the final with Al Ahli just four days later, but the severity of his injury and the shortness of time prevented Hadeed from playing any part as the club achieved the domestic cup double with yet another spot-kick triumph.

They’d previously clasped the Arabian Gulf Cup back in January following a 4-1 win over Sharjah in a one-sided final.

Hadeed’s prolonged absence will be a blow to Jovanovic, who often deployed the 21-year-old attacking midfielder as an impact ‘super sub’ late on in games in an effort to unlock opposition defences with his energy, pace and trickery.

Hadeed made 17 appearances in the 2014/2015 season just gone, 13 of which came from off the substitutes’ bench, and scored just the once.

Meanwhile, having proven their cup credentials beyond doubt last term, Nasr are looking to strengthen their playing personnel still further in a concerted push to challenge for the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) title in the forthcoming 2015/2016 season and beyond.

As well as their Arabian Gulf Cup and President’s Cup successes this year, Nasr also reached the GCC Club Cup semifinals, where they lost to their city rivals and the eventual champions in Caio Junior’s Shabab.

Nonetheless, the fact that they finished four positions — and a considerable 21 points — behind AGL winners Al Ain would perhaps imply that reinforcements need to be made for the ‘bread and butter’ business of the league.

To that end, the club have begun negotiations with two South American stars currently competing at the ongoing Copa America in Chile.

Jovanovic has been tracking Atletico Madrid and Uruguay left winger Cristian Rodriguez and Toluca and Paraguay forward Edgar Benitez for some time.

Board member and general supervisor Humaid Al Tayer confirmed “channels of communication” had already been opened with the talented pair prior to the start of the tournament earlier this month.

He stressed such moves were indicative and symptomatic of their “quest to strengthen the squad with the best foreign players in anticipation of next season” and to “offer competitive levels to keep pace with past achievements.”

alex@khaleejtimes.com