Hassan Tambakti Returns to Training: Boost for Al-Hilal's Defence

Al-Hilal have just taken a deep breath.

Hassan Tambakti is back on the training pitch.

The Saudi international defender rejoined group work on Monday, completing the first phase of the session and handing Simone Inzaghi a badly needed boost as the season edges into its most demanding stretch. For a backline that has looked vulnerable and short of conviction, his return could not be better timed.

From treatment room to training ground

Tambakti has been out for weeks after picking up an injury while on duty with the Saudi national team during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The problem forced him into a strict treatment and rehabilitation programme, designed not only to heal the injury but to restore his full physical and technical edge.

That process has now reached a key checkpoint. In today’s session, the centre-back took part in the opening phase of training, a clear sign that his comeback is moving from theory to reality. The next step is decisive: building up his fitness to the level required for official matches.

The medical staff and Inzaghi will not rush it. His involvement in competitive games will depend on how quickly he regains full sharpness and how confident the coaching team feel about throwing him straight into the fire.

Defence under strain

Al-Hilal’s need is obvious. The team have looked shaky at the back in recent weeks, especially through the middle, where gaps have appeared and individual performances have dipped. Opponents have found more joy than Inzaghi would ever accept from a side with title ambitions on multiple fronts.

Kalidou Koulibaly, usually a pillar of any defence, has struggled for form, leaving the Italian coach juggling options and searching for a stable pairing. That uncertainty has fed into the team’s overall balance, forcing the midfield to drop deeper and stretching the structure Inzaghi prefers.

Tambakti’s return offers a potential reset. His presence gives the coach another trusted option in central defence and the freedom to reshuffle his backline with more confidence.

A defender built for big nights

Tambakti brings more than just fresh legs. His game is built on strong covering, timing in duels and a sharp defensive reading that allows him to anticipate danger rather than simply react to it. Those traits matter most when the margins shrink and one mistake can swing a season.

Inside the club, his value is measured not only in tackles and clearances but in experience. He has lived through high-pressure clashes and knows how to manage games that demand absolute concentration. That profile is exactly what Al-Hilal need as the decisive fixtures close in and the calendar tightens.

For Inzaghi, the equation is simple: a fully fit Tambakti means more solidity, more balance, and more options.

The battles ahead

Al-Hilal are preparing for a run of tough games on several fronts, with no room for defensive uncertainty. The sight of Tambakti back on the grass, even for just the first phase of training, will have lifted the mood around the camp.

Once he clears the final hurdles of fitness and rhythm, the Italian coach may finally regain a cornerstone for his backline. And with the season about to be defined, the question is no longer whether Al-Hilal will need him.

It is how quickly he can be ready to anchor their defence when it matters most.