Striker had netted in first leg 1-1 draw against UAE

Luton forward Al Al-Hamadi has reportedly suffered another injury blow while away on international duty with Iraq.

The 23-year-old, who moved to Kenilworth Road on a season-long loan from Championship outfit Ipswich Town on transfer deadline day, had only just recovered to feature for the Hatters, after a calf problem picked up at his parent club sidelined him for almost two months. Having been fit enough to make the bench against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup first round, the striker finally made his long-awaited Town debut when coming on for the final half an hour of the 4-3 success over the National League outfit.

Al-Hamadi then featured again last weekend, as a late substitute during Luton’s 3-0 League One success at table-toppers Stockport County, going close to netting a first Hatters strike with a late effort that was cleared away by a covering defender. He went on win a 16th cap for his country, also scoring his fourth goal in Thursday’s fifth-round AFC World Cup play-off with the UAE at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi that finished 1-1, although was replaced at the interval.

However, he will now not be included in the squad for the second leg that takes place next week, as a statement on the Iraq national team’s X page on Friday, said: “Medical tests have confirmed that our national team player Ali Al-Hamadi suffered a front muscle injury during yesterday's match against the the UAE, which was the first leg of the Asian play-off qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Therefore, national team coach Graham Arnold has decided to call up Ammar Mohsen to replace him in the team for the second leg against the UAE on Tuesday.”

Speaking about his striker during Friday’s pre-match press conference, Luton boss Jack Wilshere had hoped his time away on international duty would see him come back in better shape to feature regularly for the Hatters during a busy period of games, adding: “I spoke to Ali, as again, I didn’t want him to feel like we were playing a game without him because he’s going to be someone we need. He needs some games, he scored yesterday, so good for him and let’s see how he comes back.”