End of the wait: Al-Hilal star knocks on the door of a return after 205 days out

Al-Yami returns

Al Hilal's supporters can breathe again. Right-back Hamad Al Yami is closing in on a return to competitive action after a long and gruelling rehabilitation that kept him off the pitch for more than half a year.

Saudi newspaper "Arriyadiyah" report that Al Yami has hit full fitness in line with the rehabilitation programme he has worked through, leaving the technical and medical staff to decide when he features again.

His absence has stretched to around 205 days. The defender suffered a serious knee injury against Al Taawoun in the tenth round of last season's league, then needed delicate surgery on the "kneecap" last March.

Hope arrived last Monday when Al Hilal's official account on the "X" platform posted footage of Al Yami taking part in part of the group training sessions. He has come through the critical stages of his rehabilitation and the medical staff are happy with his progress.

The blue side's players return to training tomorrow, Friday, evening. Simone Inzaghi's staff handed them time off after the road trip back from Doha, where they picked up a valuable 2-0 win over Qatar's Al Sadd in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite.

Expect Al Yami to be among Inzaghi's options for the next fixture against Al Hazem, set for Monday at the "Kingdom Arena" in the tenth round. Al Hilal sit top of the table on 21 points.

The Saudi Pro League had earlier postponed Al Hilal's ninth-round meeting with Al Riyadh to 19 December.