Ahmed Sharahili, the defender of Jeddah's Union team, continues to be absent from participating in training for another period, after suffering a new injury that will require him to undergo surgery next week.
The Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya reported that the medical examinations conducted by Sharahili before the start of the preparation period for the new season showed that he had a tear in the tendon of the long peroneal muscle in the left ankle.
Sharahili suffered the injury while carrying out an individual preparatory program with his personal trainer during the injury period, according to the club, which indicated that this injury is new in a location where he had not previously been injured.
The club explained that after consulting a number of specialists in orthopedic surgery and foot and ankle injuries, it was decided that Sharahili would undergo surgery next week in the Portuguese city of Porto at the hands of a consultant specializing in this type of injury.
Sharahili had gradually returned to participation in the past season after undergoing surgery on the cruciate ligament, as he played 20 matches in various competitions, noting that his last appearance in the Tigers' jersey dates back to May 4, when he participated in the match against Al-Khulood in the 31st round of the Saudi League, after which he sat on the bench in two matches, before missing the last two rounds of the league due to suffering a knee injury.
Union continued its preparations on its field under the leadership of its German coach Jens Fissing within the first phase of the preparatory program for the new season, followed by a second phase that includes an external camp in the Spanish city of Marbella, which begins next Monday and continues until July 31, during which the team will play three friendly matches, two against South African Orlando Pirates and Spanish Las Palmas, while the third will be announced later.
The Union team opens its season with a match against Emirati Al-Jazira at the latter's stadium in Abu Dhabi, the capital, on August 11, within the playoff qualifying for the AFC Champions League Elite.
