Zamalek's Saied to miss league opener

"Hani should be able to play normally after the Hodoud game," said Zamalek doctor Abdullah George.

Saied, a regular in Egypt's backline, has been out of favor at Zamalek since Hossam Hassan had taken charge back in November.

The natural sweeper was on brink of leaving the Cairo club to re-join Ismaili in the close season, but eventually stayed put.

It is thought that Hassan has agreed to deploy him as a center-half or a defensive midfielder in his sweeper-less 4-4-2 formation.