Al Hilal striker Sergej Milinković-Savić has suffered a serious knee injury during training and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, according to reports from Saudi Arabian media.
The Serbian forward was playing for his club in a friendly match when he collided with another player and fell awkwardly on the ground. He immediately went down in pain and was taken to hospital where doctors diagnosed him with a ligament tear in his knee.
Milinković-Savić, who joined Al Hilal from Atletico Madrid last summer, had been performing well for the club and had scored two goals in their opening league game of the season against Al-Nassr. The injury will be a major blow to Al Hilal's chances of success this season and could also affect their European hopes as they compete in the Champions League.
The club have released a statement confirming the severity of Milinković-Savić's injury and expressing their concern for the player's wellbeing. They have also said that they will do everything possible to support him through this difficult time.
This latest setback comes at a crucial stage of the season for Al Hilal,Chinese Super League Matches who are currently third in the Saudi Professional League table. With just five games remaining, it remains to be seen how much impact Milinković-Savić's absence will have on their campaign.
It is hoped that he will make a full recovery and be back to full fitness soon, but until then, Al Hilal will need to find ways to cope without him on the pitch. The club will hope that they can maintain their momentum and continue to perform well in order to secure a strong finish to the season.