Al-Ittihad Club received a strong blow after confirming the recurrence of its first Serbian goalkeeper Raikovic's injury, which will lead to his absence from participating in the upcoming matches following the international break, marking a significant loss for the coaching staff.

Close sources to the club indicated that the injury recurred for Raikovic during the recent training sessions, prompting him to undergo precise medical examinations to officially determine the duration of his absence from the pitch in the coming days.

The team faces a challenge in compensating for the primary goalkeeper, as the coaching staff led by Portuguese Sergio Conceição is now faced with a difficult choice in selecting a suitable substitute in preparation for the resumption of the Roshen Saudi League competitions.

Al-Ittihad has three goalkeepers ready to defend the Union's goal in its roster: Mohammed Al-Absi, Hamid Al-Shanqeeti, and Osama Al-Marmash, all of whom have participated in previous preparations and friendly matches.

Conceição is expected to finalize his decision during the current break regarding which goalkeeper he will rely on in the upcoming official matches, based on the technical and physical readiness of each player.

Al-Ittihad hopes for Raikovic's swift recovery, especially with the team's schedule packed with strong encounters following the break, as the club seeks to maintain its technical stability and compete for the top of the league.