Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will be unavailable for Al-Shabab’s next two Saudi Pro League fixtures as he continues his recovery from an injury.
The 33-year-old is set to miss the matches against Al-Kholood and Al-Fayha, with Al-Shabab choosing not to accelerate his return to competitive football.
Partey is currently undertaking intensive, specialised training under the direction of the club’s fitness coach as he works to restore his fitness.
The Saudi Arabian side have opted for a cautious approach, allowing the experienced midfielder the necessary time to complete his recovery rather than risking an early return.
As a result, Partey will not be considered for the upcoming meetings with Al-Kholood and Al-Fayha.
Al-Shabab’s decision reflects the club’s preference to ensure the Ghana international is fully prepared before he resumes competitive action. The additional time away from matches is intended to help him reach the required level of fitness.
Partey remains focused on his rehabilitation programme, with his training being closely supervised by Al-Shabab’s fitness staff.
The midfielder’s absence means Al-Shabab will have to manage the two fixtures without one of their experienced players. However, the club’s priority is to avoid rushing him back while he continues his recovery.
Partey is expected to use the period surrounding the two matches to continue his specialised work and build towards a return to the squad.
The former Ghana international will therefore remain on the sidelines for Al-Shabab’s meeting with Al-Kholood before also missing the subsequent fixture against Al-Fayha.
Rather than setting a premature return date, Al-Shabab are allowing Partey to progress through his recovery programme before determining when he is ready to play again.
The club will hope that the additional period away from competitive football gives the midfielder enough time to regain full fitness.
Partey’s return will be welcomed by Al-Shabab once he is considered ready to compete, with the club hoping he can make a strong comeback after completing his rehabilitation.
For now, the focus remains on his fitness work rather than his immediate involvement in matches.
The Ghanaian is continuing to train intensively under the supervision of Al-Shabab’s fitness coach, with the aim of reaching full match fitness.
That process means he will not feature against Al-Kholood or Al-Fayha, as Al-Shabab maintain their cautious approach to his recovery.
The club’s decision gives Partey more time to recover fully and prepare for his eventual return to competitive action.
Al-Shabab will be hoping that the approach pays off by allowing the 33-year-old to return in the best possible condition and contribute strongly once he is ready to rejoin the squad.
