Al-Ittihad will have to continue without their first-choice goalkeeper, Serbian Predrag Rajković, for the next two matches in the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League Elite. The club announced that Rajković is suffering from a tear in his abdominal muscle wall, which also kept him out of the recent league fixture.
Rajković’s Absence and Recovery Timeline
The 28-year-old shot-stopper missed Al-Ittihad’s 2-1 victory over Al-Fayha on Tuesday in the sixth round of the Saudi Pro League. He had previously played a key role in the team’s similar 2-1 win against Al-Nassr in the preceding round. According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya, Rajković has not fully recovered from the injury and will therefore be sidelined for the upcoming matches against Al-Faisaly in the seventh round of the league and Qatari side Al-Shamal in the first group-stage match of the AFC Champions League Elite’s West region.
The report indicates that Rajković is expected to return to group training after the international break, which coincides with the Saudi national team’s participation in the Gulf Cup. The tournament is scheduled to run from September 23 to October 6.
Other Injuries in the Squad
In addition to Rajković, Al-Ittihad also confirmed that Ahmed Al-Julaydan and Mukhtar Ali were unavailable for the Al-Fayha match due to separate injuries. The club has not provided a specific timeline for their returns.
Al-Ittihad will need to rely on backup goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf during Rajković’s absence, as they aim to maintain their strong start in both domestic and continental competitions.