QNB Stars League leaders Al Duhail defender Lucas Mendez has been ruled out of action for three weeks after suffering a strain in the back muscle. The Brazilian defender sustained the injury while training ahead of their Round 4 match against Al Ahli, which they won 6-1, and he had to limp off the field.

Mendez is considered as one of the best defenders in the QNB Stars League and a key player in the team’s Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi’s scheme of things.