Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso provides latest Marcelo Allende injury update as he welcomes back three key players - 'You can’t control that'

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has given an update regarding Marcelo Allende and the other players who have been out of action due to injuries this season. 

Allende played for just 21 minutes in the club's intense Premier Soccer League match against Stellenbosch FC on Wednesday, where the Brazilians emerged victorious.

Cardoso mentioned that he expects to welcome back three prominent players before the year ends, but emphasized that he is content to work with whoever is available in his team.

"There are long-term injuries that we have to wait for, such as players like Themba Zwane and Rivaldo Coetzee. But they will come at the right time, and for those, we need to provide for resting," Cardoso said, as quoted by FARPost. 

"However, there are a few players who are coming back quickly. Tashreeq Matthews is coming back quite quickly. Grant Kekana is also coming back, and we expect Mosa Lebusa to come back quickly.

"Today, Marcelo Allende was a small pressure, he suffered a punch. You can’t control that. We will conduct an assessment of him and see how he can recover quickly and be present," he added. 

"But obviously, there’s no major concern. The only concern is that we don’t have the players, but we have a big group. We are working with that so we can be a very strong team." 

Despite Sundowns having an unconvincing beginning to the Caf Champions League group stage, they have been performing well in the PSL.

The Tshwane giants have accumulated 24 points from nine matches, winning eight and suffering one defeat. They are leading second-placed Orlando Pirates by three points, although Bucs have a game in hand.

So far, Cardoso has secured two wins in two matches since his appointment last week, but the team has struggled to score more than one goal, which could place him under pressure if he cannot quickly resolve the scoring issues.

Zwane, who sustained an injury during the Bafana Bafana match against Congo-Brazzaville in October, is expected to return to action in February 2025.

Earlier in November, former Downs mentor Manqoba Mngqithi had confirmed that Coetzee is set to be sidelined for over a month, which means he is likely to return soon.

Masandawana's next PSL match will be against AmaZulu FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium next Tuesday. They will also travel to face Cape Town City before the year ends.