Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso considers his options after Khuliso Mudau injury - 'There will be chances for others'

Mamelodi Sundowns have been rocked by the news that Khuliso Mudau will be sidelined for a significant period following a severe injury sustained during domestic competition.

The marauding right-back, who has been a cornerstone of the Brazilians' recent success both domestically and on the continent, was stretchered off the pitch just before the interval in a 2-0 victory over Marumo Gallants this week.

The initial fears of the technical staff were confirmed when medical assessments revealed an Achilles rupture.

The loss of Mudau represents a major tactical headache for head coach Miguel Cardoso, who has relied on the defender's ability to invert into midfield and provide explosive width when necessary.

Zuko Mdunyelwa was called upon to fill the void during the midweek fixture, but the long-term absence of a player of Mudau's calibre requires a more sustainable solution as the club enters a congested period of fixtures.

Speaking at a press conference held at the MTN headquarters in Randburg on Thursday, Cardoso was candid about the situation, acknowledging the difficulty of replacing a player with Mudau's unique profile.

The Portuguese tactician highlighted the existing depth within the squad, pointing specifically to the versatility of Thapelo Morena and the readiness of Mdunyelwa.

Cardoso noted that while losing a starter is never ideal, it provides a platform for fringe players to demonstrate their value to the team.

"We have two players in that position obviously, Morena and Zuko."

"Obviously, you saw how important Thapelo was last season in the [CAF] Champions League and how we missed him in terms of managing certain contexts, in matches where his experience is important, because we also use him higher up the pitch, especially when Mudau was inverted in the centre of the pitch, especially against the strongest teams in African competition,” he said.

The Sundowns mentor was also keen to address the perception that certain players have been underutilised.

He suggested that the lack of minutes for some members of the squad was not a reflection of their quality, but rather a consequence of the high level of performance maintained by the starting eleven.

With Mudau now unavailable, the door has swung open for those who have been waiting patiently in the wings.

"But sometimes players are not promoted not because they are not ready but because there's no opportunity."

"I always say, regarding youngsters, in this case they are not young players. But for the 'young player' [players not used regularly] to appear, not only he needs to be in a good level of readiness but also there must be an opportunity for him to appear.”

Despite the setback, the mood within the Sundowns camp remains focused on the upcoming silverware hunt.

The Brazilians are under immense pressure to end their recent domestic cup drought, and the MTN8 represents the first opportunity of the season to secure a trophy.

Cardoso is confident that his squad possesses the necessary resilience to overcome the loss of key individuals.

Concluding his assessment of the right-back dilemma, Cardoso remained optimistic about the talent available to him.

He was firm in his belief that the quality within the squad would shine through during this testing period.

"Sometimes there are positions in the club where there's one, two experienced players, they don't get a chance and, in this case, there will be chances for others for sure."

"The next match will also allow us to have a better position on that. We do have quality right backs," the Portuguese coach said.