Al-Hilal's training sessions have seen positive developments regarding the readiness of the team's stars, with Portuguese full-back João Cancelo, a first-team player, participating for the second consecutive day in training with the youth team (Al-Hilal U21). This is part of the rehabilitation program designed for the player to prepare him for the upcoming stage, as both the coaching staff and the player are keen to achieve full physical and technical fitness before returning to highly competitive official matches.
The Portuguese star is currently training with Al-Hilal's under-21 team as part of a gradual physical conditioning plan to prevent a recurrence of his injury and accelerate his return to full fitness. This move strongly suggests his imminent return to the first team, as the coaching staff, led by Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus (who heads the club's technical staff), aims to utilize all of their foreign professionals given the upcoming domestic and continental competitions.
Injury context and squad changes
João Cancelo had recently suffered a muscle injury that required intensive treatment. His return to training comes at a crucial time in the season, as Al-Hilal's roster is witnessing fierce competition among its foreign players. The Brazilian Marcos Leonardo, registered as an under-21 foreign player, stands out as a key addition that has bolstered the team's attacking prowess, giving the coach multiple tactical options for player rotation and preventing fatigue.
Al-Hilal continues its strong performances domestically
In terms of results, Al-Hilal is experiencing a significant resurgence, having secured a resounding victory in their last match against Al-Fateh in the King's Cup. The game, played at the Kingdom Arena, ended 4-1, demonstrating the depth of Al-Hilal's squad and their ability to secure wins even with some key players absent.
The importance of Cancelo's return and its expected impact
Cancelo's return is of paramount importance to Al-Hilal, not only domestically but also continentally. Considered one of the world's best full-backs, his presence provides Al-Hilal with exceptional attacking options on the flanks, especially given Jorge Jesus's tactical approach, which demands constant support from the full-backs. Al-Hilal fans eagerly await the team's return to full strength to continue their dominance of domestic titles and compete strongly for the AFC Champions League title, as Al-Hilal is always considered a top contender in every competition they participate in.
