Saudi goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi is continuing rehabilitation after elbow surgery and is aiming to return for Al-Nassr and Saudi Arabia at the start of next year, with the postponement of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup described as a possible ray of light for him.
Elbow injury and surgery details
Nawaf Al-Aqidi hurt his elbow during Saudi Arabia's 1-0 win over Kuwait last September at the Al-Inmaa Stadium in Jeddah, in the opening round of the group stage at the 27th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup, "Gulf Cup 27".
The elbow injury ruled Nawaf Al-Aqidi out of the rest of Gulf Cup 27.
Nawaf Al-Aqidi missed the November international break because of the injury.
Nawaf Al-Aqidi had already been sidelined at Al-Nassr throughout the preceding period before the November international break.
Surgery on Nawaf Al-Aqidi's elbow was performed in London on 16 October.
After the surgery on 16 October in London, Nawaf Al-Aqidi began his road back to the pitch.
Rehabilitation programme at Aspetar in Doha
According to the Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah, Nawaf Al-Aqidi has started his treatment and rehabilitation programme at the Aspetar centre in Doha, with the aim of returning to action in the coming period.
According to Arriyadiyah, Nawaf Al-Aqidi will need between four and six weeks on the rehabilitation programme at Aspetar, training for three hours a day, before his doctor assesses him.
Once that assessment is complete, the treating doctor will decide whether Nawaf Al-Aqidi can return to training and matches as normal, or whether he needs to extend his rehabilitation.
Nawaf Al-Aqidi's rehabilitation is unfolding under constant monitoring from Al-Nassr's medical staff, working in coordination with the Saudi national team's medics.
The Saudi national team's account on X revealed earlier that Al-Nassr's medical staff are working in coordination with the Saudi national team's medics in monitoring Nawaf Al-Aqidi.
It is stated that realistically Nawaf Al-Aqidi will not be back before roughly the end of this coming December.
Asian Cup delay and added window
Saudi Arabia were set to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup from 7 January to 5 February, with 24 teams taking part.
The Asian Football Confederation decided to push the 2027 AFC Asian Cup back so that it now starts in December of next year and runs until January 2028, owing to the logistical circumstances Saudi Arabia were facing.
The delay to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup is described as potentially a ray of light for Nawaf Al-Aqidi.
New year targets and Al-Nassr competition
Nawaf Al-Aqidi will work to return at the start of next year, win back his first-team place with Al-Nassr and force his way back into the Saudi Arabia squad.
Nawaf Al-Aqidi has not managed to nail down a starting spot at Al-Nassr since the season began.
Nawaf Al-Aqidi has been sitting behind Brazilian goalkeeper Bento at Al-Nassr since the season began, before the injury took him out of the picture entirely.
