POSITION:Football Impressionist > Saudi Pro League News >
Sergej Milinković-Savić, the Serbian forward who joined Al Hilal from Al-Ahli in January, has been sidelined with a knee injury for several weeks.
The 26-year-old Serbian international had scored five goals in eight games before sustaining the knee problem against Al-Nassr in December. The club confirmed that he would be out for four to six months.
Al Hilal have now announced that they will not play any more matches this season until Milinković-Savić returns to fitness.
"We regret to inform you that Sergej Milinković-Savić is unavailable for the remainder of the season," Al Hilal said in a statement. "He will undergo rehabilitation and we expect him back as soon as possible."
Milinković-Savić's injury has caused a big blow to Al Hilal's title hopes as they currently sit second in the Saudi Professional League table behind Al-Hilal.
The club's coach, Paulo Sousa, has praised the player's professionalism and commitment during his time at the club.
"Milinković-Savić is a top-class player and we wish him well in his recovery," Sousa said. "We will miss him during our absence but we will continue to work hard to achieve our targets."
Despite the setback, Al Hilal remain hopeful of securing a place in next year's AFC Champions League tournament. They have already qualified for the Asian Club Championship and hope to qualify for the Champions League by finishing high in the league table.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal's rivals, Al Nassr, have also suffered a major blow after their star striker, Adnan Farag, was ruled out for two to three months with a knee injury.
This has left them without one of their key players and could impact their chances of winning the title this season.
Overall, it seems that both teams will have to work hard to secure their places in the coming seasons. However, Al Hilal's recent injuries have certainly put a damper on their prospects.