CAIRO: Ahly will be without influential midfielder Mohamed Barakat when they face Ittihad in Alexandria on Friday, while three key players are fit again after injury.
Manager Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Shafi ‘Zizo’ named 18 players for the league clash, making a number of changes to the squad that travelled to Smouha last week.
Veteran Barakat, who hardly trained since the 1-1 draw at Smouha, has been struggling with a nagging knee problem and will consequently miss the Ittihad clash.
But the Reds regain the services of full-back Sayed Moawad, who makes his return after several weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Defender Sherif Abdul-Fadil also returns after missing last week’s game with a pelvic problem as young midfielder Shehab Ahmed makes the squad after recovering from an ankle injury.
Lebanon striker Mohamed Ghaddar was included as Liberian Francis Doe misses out again due to injury.
Ahmed Al-Sayed, Mohamed Shawky, Abdul-Hamid Shabana and Osama Hosni were all dropped.
Meanwhile, long-term casualty Ahmed Hassan was present at the team’s training ground for the first time since damaging knee ligaments in September as he resumes a four-month rehab program.
