Asian Cup 2015: Saudi Arabia star Nasser Al-Shamrani gets treatment ahead of China clash

STAR Saudi Arabia attacker Nasser Al-Shamrani was kept in cotton wool as his teammates prepared for Saturday night’s Asian Cup clash against China.

Asian Cup official Team Welcome for Saudi Arabia. Nasser Al Shamrani

STAR Saudi Arabia attacker Nasser Al-Shamrani was kept in cotton wool on Tuesday night as his teammates prepared for Saturday night’s Asian Cup Group B clash against China at Suncorp Stadium.

While the rest of the Green Falcons trained at Perry Park, the 2014 Asian Football Confederation player of the year received attention on his abdomen area on the sideline.

Nasser Al Shamrani received treatment for an abdominal problem.

Al-Shamrani is permitted to play in the Asian Cup despite being suspended for eight matches for headbutting and spitting at Western Sydney and Socceroos defender Matthew Spiranovic in the second leg of the 2014 AFC Champions League final in November.

The ban will apply at club level in the Champions League.

Training was only open to the media for 15 minutes but AFC officials expressed concern that the field at Perry Park could easily be seen from outside the venue’s perimeters despite attempts to block viewing.

Before training started the Saudi Arabians, three-time Asian Cup champions, gathered in a huddle for several minutes

“The most important thing is to try to build the spirit of the team,” Green Falcons coach Cosmin Olaroiu told the AFC website.

“Somebody can be better than us, can be faster than us, can be stronger than us but we have to want it more than them and this is our target.”

Romanian Olaroiu was only appointed last month after Juan Ramon Lopez Caro was sacked following November’s Gulf Cup.