"Barakat is getting better after suffering inflammation in his kneecap but the technical staff decided not to play him against Hodoud," Ahli doctor Magdi Abdul-Aziz told FilGoal.com.

The mercurial player missed the Red Devils' 2-2 draw at Ittihad in the Egyptian Premier League on December 10th and took no part in training of late.

"Barakat will start rehabilitation in order to be fit to play against Arab Contractors and Zamalek," Abdul-Aziz added.

Ahli will face Contractors on December 25th before locking horns with their arch-rivals Zamalek five days later.

On the other hand, Ahli duo Sayed Moawad and Mohamed Fadl have got back in training and should be named for the Hodoud game.

Left-back Moawad was nursing a calf injury while striker Fadl suffered from exhaustion.

Ahli are still seeking to register their first competitive victory under the management of caretaker coach Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Shafi 'Zizo'.