Hatters boss remains hopeful Iraq striker Al-Hamadi's injury isn't too bad
Forward is replaced in national team’s squad for World Cup qualifier
Luton boss Jack Wilshere admits the information regarding striker Ali Al-Hamadi’s injury is limited after he suffered an injury while away on international duty with Iraq in the week.
The 23-year-old moved to Kenilworth Road on a season-long loan from Championship outfit Ipswich Town on transfer deadline day, the Hatters having an obligation to buy within the deal, had only just returned after a calf injury suffered at his parent club which kept him out for almost two months. He finally made the first team squad against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup first round 4-3 success, coming on in the second half, and then had another cameo when Town triumphed 3-0 at Stockport County in the league.
Heading away with Iraq last week, Al-Hamadi won a 16th cap for his country, also scoring the fourth goal of his international career 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. However, he was substituted at half time and then replaced in the squad for the second leg by Brage’s Amar Muhsin, with a statement on the Iraq national team’s X page saying: “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.”
With Wilshere having not been able to use the forward, who scored 23 goals in 42 games for AFC Wimbledon two years ago, anywhere near as much as he would have liked since becoming Luton manager a month ago, then asked for an update on the on-loan attacker on Saturday, he said: “I know he played, I know he scored and I knew he came off with an injury. I’m still waiting for more information. I think it’s his quad and I don’t think it’s a bad one, but we have to wait. I know he had a scan there, we’re waiting for the information back from their medical team but we’ll get him back, he’ll come back and we’ll assess it as well.”