Sheffield Wednesday forward Ali Al-Hamadi has been forced to withdraw from Iraq duty through injury, adding to a frustrating start to his loan spell at Hillsborough.
The Ipswich Town striker has made four League One appearances from the bench since joining Wednesday on a season-long deal in August, but missed the recent draw with Stockport County. His absence will now extend to the international programme, although the nature of the problem and a timescale for his return have not been made public.
Iraq head coach Graham Arnold confirmed the 24-year-old was unavailable as he discussed preparations for the Gulf Cup. Iraq are due to face Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia during the international break.
“We had only two days to prepare, and working on physical fitness was the most important thing before the opening match.
“Ali Al-Hamadi was ruled out due to injury. As for the rest of the players, they are fully prepared technically and physically.”
For Wednesday, the concern is that Al-Hamadi’s opportunity to build up regular minutes has been interrupted before he has made his first league start. He made his debut as a late substitute in the 7-2 victory over Bromley, but is still waiting for his first goal for the Owls.
The setback follows a difficult campaign at Luton Town, where injuries restricted him to 13 league appearances and one goal. That strike came against former club AFC Wimbledon in April, towards the end of a season in which he struggled to establish any continuity.
Al-Hamadi had sounded optimistic about making a fresh start when he arrived in South Yorkshire, describing himself as eager to make an impression. Speaking after signing, he said:
“What people are getting is a really hungry Ali at this moment.
“I’m feeling the best I’ve felt physically and mentally for a long time. You can expect someone who gives their all and wears a heart on their sleeve.”
His most productive spell came at Wimbledon, where 23 goals in 42 league appearances earned him a move to Ipswich in January 2024. He contributed four Championship goals as Town won promotion that season, before gaining Premier League experience and spending time on loan at Stoke City and Luton.
That record offers Wednesday reason to believe he can make a useful contribution once fit, but the immediate priority is getting him available again. With no recovery timeframe confirmed, it remains unclear whether his withdrawal from international duty will also affect his involvement when the Owls resume their league campaign.
