Khalid Muftah, the Egyptian footballer who is currently playing for Al Gharafa in the Saudi Professional League, has been injured and will be out of action for several months.
The 27-year-old forward sustained a knee injury during training on Monday and underwent surgery to repair his ACL ligament. The procedure was successful, but it's expected that he'll miss the remainder of the season.
Muftah joined Al Gharafa in January this year from Al Ahly, where he had played since he was just 16 years old. He scored four goals in his debut season with the club, helping them secure a place in the Saudi Pro-League.
Al Gharafa have already lost two key players due to injuries - defender Adel Naser and midfielder Mohamed El Shafie. With both players now out of action, the team will be looking to fill the void left by their absence.
However, the loss of Muftah is particularly difficult as he is one of the most talented forwards in the league. His departure means that Al Gharafa will need to find a replacement quickly if they want to remain competitive.
Despite the setback, Al Gharafa manager Hisham Al-Subaihi has expressed confidence that the team can still achieve success without Muftah. "We have quality players who can step up and take over," he said. "But we must focus on getting him back soon."
Muftah's injury is a major blow for Al Gharafa, but the team will continue to play hard and fight for every point they can get. They may not have Muftah, but they certainly have the talent to compete at the highest level.