Player Profile: Mohammad Al-Sahlawi

Saudi Arabia striker Mohammad Al-Sahlawi will be hoping to announce himself on the highest international stage at this summer’s World Cup.

The Green Falcons, who can be backed at 26.00 to win Group A, are gearing up for their fifth appearance at a World Cup, having only once previously made it beyond the group stage, and many feel they could struggle to advance out of Group A in Russia.

Al-Sahlawi will likely play a big role in their progression if they do manage to pick up positive results against the likes of Russia, Egypt and Uruguay.

The 31-year-old is a veteran of the game and has hit the back of the net consistently throughout his career, which has been spent in his homeland with Al-Qadisiya and Al-Nassr, scoring 100 times in 175 appearances for the latter.

The striker netted 16 times in the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, matching Robert Lewandowsk’s tally for Poland, as Saudi Arabia secured an automatic spot at the showpiece event, eventually going on to finish second to Japan in Group B.

Al-Sahlawi has a formidable record with the national side, scoring 28 times in 33 outings, although eight of those came over two meetings with Timor-Leste.

There is no doubt that Al-Sahlawi will find it much tougher against experienced defenders at the this summer, but he has so far made a career from being a poacher and will fully expect to make his opponents pay if they allow even a glimpse of an opportunity.