The 32-year-old is en route to recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament damage, which kept him out of action for long spells of 2008.

Ahli's official website stated that the player was forced to pull out of the youth team's friendly game with Masri after just 15 minutes.

However, team doctor Ehab Ali played down fears of a recurrence of the ligament injury as he declared that the sweeper needs to rest for no more than two days.

"It is a minor tendon problem, it has nothing to do with the surgery. Emad should be back in a couple of days," said Ali.