Striker Abdulkader Ilyas Elias has joined Al Markhiya’s training ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 22 game against Umm Salal as he has recovered from an injury that kept him out of the last two matches.

Al Markhiya had lost 2-4 to new champions Al Duhail in Week 21, resulting in their relegation, even though they had beaten Al Ahli 2-0 in Week 20.

Al Markhiya returned to the Second Division after Al Kharaitiyat defeated Qatar SC 3-2 to earn a play-off berth with Al Wakrah.

Al Markhiya stayed on 12 points, while Al Kharaitiyat moved to 16 to be the 11th-placed side in the QNB Stars League that plays off with the Second Division runners-up.

Despite relegation, Al Markhiya are eagerly preparing for the last-round action and also for the Emir’s Cup.

The squad, under Tunisian coach Adel Sellimi, is training without Rebin Solaqa, who is doing duty for Iraq in the ongoing international friendly tournament also featuring Qatar and Syria, as well as Anas Mubarak, who recently underwent a surgery at Aspetar.