Rival Watch: UAE's Omar Abdulrahman out of Asian Cup with ACL tear

UAE will miss the services of their star attacking midfielder in the upcoming Asian Cup...

's Omar Abdulrahman has been sidelined for a considerable period of time after medical reports confirmed that the midfielder has suffered a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee. He was flown to on Wednesday to get operated.

Saudi club Al Hilal, where he is on loan, confirmed the news via a social media post following Tuesday’s scan, which read: “Following medical tests carried out on Al Hilal’s UAE player Omar Abdul Rahman, he has been diagnosed with an ACL tear, and the operation appointment will be determined later.”

He suffered a jarring knock while trying to reach for a pass in the fifth minute, colliding with Romanian defender Valerica Garman, during a league game against Al Shabab Riyadh.

Turki Al Shaikh, chairman of ’s General Sports Authority, tweeted: “I have directed the specialists to coordinate with the management of the Crescent to treat Amoory urgently in the best places in the world, God heal him and God willing he returns soon.”

He is one of the integral members of the UAE squad and now Alberto Zaccheroni will have to make do without the services of his star player.

The 2016 Asian Player of the Year has been in a rich vein of form after his loan move to Al-Hilal this summer. He even found the net in UAE's 1-1 draw against Honduras in Barcelona during the last international break.

The 27-year-old has suffered a string of knee injuries in the past and has already gone under the knife on two previous occasions.

UAE have been clubbed in Group A along with , Bahrain and in the upcoming .