Who will partner Murad Alyan up top?
This entry is the fourth of a four part series. Parts 1-3 cover the potential Goalkeepers, Defenders, and Midfielders that could be called up for the World Cup Qualifier against Afghanistan. You can access parts 1-3 by clicking on the hyperlinks above. For the sake of brevity we only assess players who have previously been called up to the national team.
Staying at Home:
Mohammed Jebreen (Al-Bireh, WBPL)- Can be deployed as a winger but has had a very indifferent season with Al-Bireh scoring a measly two league goals (3 total) since transferring from Hilal Al-Quds in search of more playing time. Played an ancillary role at the Challenge Cup, never lived up to the hype of that goal he scored on his debut against Sudan.
Mohammed-ali Shatrit (Shabab Al-Khaleel, WBPL)- Did not feature during the Challenge Cup, for a guy who claims to be a striker he doesn’t score a lot of goals. Since transferring from JA Drancy in the winter he has provided the suffering Hebronites only one goal.
Fadi Lafi (Saham, Oman Premier League)- Discarded by Bezzaz after his friendly in charge against the UAE, and rightfully so. Lafi has always, for whatever reason, been better at the clubs he’s played at than with the national team. Fadi Lafi hasn’t scored for the national team since 2002.
Flying Standby:
Ahmed Keshkesh (Wehdat, Jordanian Premier League)- He’s scored a meager two league goals- with a total of 3 on the season. Kehskesh has also been out of favor at Wehdat and recently spent an entire month away from the team after being unable to cross back into Jordan. Strikers need playing time and they need to be scoring goals… Keshkesh isn’t doing either and his goal tally is equal to that of Abdelatif Bahdari- a centreback. If it were up to me, I’d leave him out of the squad.
Mustafa Hallaq (Al-Ahed, Lebanon)- Was called up to the Challenge Cup qualifiers but had to decline the invite as he was tied to Al-Ahed. Began the season as one of the leading scorers but cooled off in the second half of the season. He also had to share time with Hassan Maatouk (top scorer of the league with 15 goals) and Mahmoud El-Ali (Third top scorer on 13 goals) and Abbas Ali (7 goals) these four helped power Al-Ahed to the league title with a gap of 10 points over the nearest rival. Hallaq would be a shoo-in for the World Cup squad but he injured his heel last month and there is no word as to when he will be fully recovered.
On the Plane:
Fahed Attal (Wehdat, Jordan Premier League): Five league goals, 7 in all competitions. Not impressive numbers but Attal has been relegated to mostly cameo appearances and still managed to be Wehdat’s third top scorer in the league. If selected, Attal could finally be restored as a support striker- a role he flourished in when Al-Kord was still in the fold.
Eyad Abugharqud (Al-Am’ary, WBPL)- 20 league goals in 22 games, 23 in all competitions. He didn’t really take his chance at the Challenge Cup but his continued goalscoring form has earned him a reprieve.
Murad Alyan (Hilal Al-Quds, WBPL)- 20 league goals, 33 in all competitions. 3 national team caps and 4 goals. Dado knows how to score and he will be the undisputed front man against Afghanistan.
