Costa's Return Ignites Al-Ettifaq's Preparations Ahead of Anticipated Match Against Al-Nassr

Al-Ettifaq's first football team has regained the services of its Portuguese player João Costa, after he successfully completed the rehabilitation phase from his anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during a match against Al-Khaleej last April.

Costa participated in the collective training session that took place on Monday at the club's stadium in Dammam, receiving a warm welcome from his teammates and the coaching staff, who expressed their happiness at the return of one of the important elements of the team.

Coach Saad Al-Shehri has devised a special plan for the player returning from injury, which includes a gradual fitness program aimed at enhancing his physical and technical readiness in a balanced manner before the official return to competitions.

Costa is scheduled to play some matches with the under-21 team as part of the final preparation stages, in anticipation of receiving the green light to participate in the match against Al-Nassr, set for December 30.

At the same time, the team continued its intensive preparations at its main stadium, gearing up to face Al-Hazm next Friday in the seventh round of the Roshen Saudi League.

Al-Shehri and his coaching staff are striving to regain the winning rhythm after two consecutive losses against Al-Hilal and Al-Fateh, focusing training on tactical aspects and correcting the defensive errors that have recently emerged.