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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Neymar dealing with long-term knee injury</li><li>Recently suffered setback</li><li>Al-Hilal keen to delay return until January</li></ul>

Trouble brewing for Neymar! Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus eager to delay Brazilian superstar's return from injury until January

Saudi Pro League

Al Khaleej

Al Hilal

Neymar's ACL injury has meant very few Saudi Pro League fans have been able to see him play since the Brazilian joined Al-Hilal just over a year ago. Now, the 32-year-old may be sidelined until January with head coach Jorge Jesus keen to register all of his foreign players, which according to <a href="https://www.record.pt/internacional/paises/arabia-saudita/detalhe/jorge-jesus-so-quer-neymar-inscrito-em-janeiro-o-que-esta-em-cima-da-mesa?ref=Pesquisa_Destaques" target="_blank">Record</a>, he can just about do if he does not include Neymar.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The SPL allow each team to have eight foreign player slots, but Al-Hilal have nine including the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star. But with Neymar <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/neymar-opens-up-on-struggle-with-injury-al-hilal-brazil-recovery/blteafe5c63c863c6e5" target="_blank">not expected to return to training until November</a>, he is only likely going to be able to play two or three games before the winter break in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Jesus would prefer to register summer signing Renan Lodi instead, and revisit the issue in January when his star forward is fully back up to speed.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Neymar has missed over 50 games for Al-Hilal since signing a mega deal with the club. The 128-cap Brazil international made just three SPL appearances in 2023-24 before picking up the catastrophic knee injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

Al-Hilal comfortably claimed the league title last term, beating Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr by 14 points. They have started the new campaign well too, picking up six points from six. Even without Neymar, they remain the team to beat in Saudi Arabia.

WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR AND AL-HILAL?

Trouble brewing for Neymar! Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus eager to delay Brazilian superstar's return from injury until January | Goal.com

Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus wants to delay Neymar&apos;s return from injury until January so he can register all of his foreign players in the squad. 