Renan Lodi: 'I'm so happy to be back... Al Hilal is in my heart' | OneFootball

Making his first Roshn Saudi League appearance in almost a month, Renan Lodi was understandably delighted to have returned.

The Al Hilal full-back, a huge hit in his 14 months in the Kingdom, was reinstated to the champions’ starting line-up for the final round of matches before this international break.

Against Al Taawoun on Saturday, Lodi was once again manning the left side of defence, playing a pivotal part in the club getting back to winning ways in the RSL.

The 2-0 triumph in Buraidah, sealed by goals from Mohammed Kanno and Marcos Leonardo and with captain Salem Al Dawsari adding yet another accolade to his CV, kept Al Hilal second in the table, but crucially drew them to within four points of leaders Al Ittihad.

With nine matchweeks remaining, the title-holders are clearly not prepared to surrender their top-flight crown without a fight. Having Lodi back for the run-in, therefore, represents a huge boost. For both the club and the player.

“First, I am very happy,” the Brazilian told the SPL. “I didn’t play for almost a month; I had a difficult injury that hurt me to run, to pass, to play. Now, I am feeling very good, and happy with the win.

"We keep fighting to achieve our goal, which is to be champions. We are now four points behind Al Ittihad so we will do everything to be champions. We will fight until the end to be champions.”

Lodi, signed in January last year from French Ligue 1 club Marseille, starred latterly in Al Hilal’s record-breaking title success last season. Formerly of Atletico Madrid also, the 19-times capped Brazil international has to this point made 29 appearances in the RSL, scoring three goals.

However, his latest run-out carried additional meaning.

“I also just wanted to say that I am very happy to be back after almost on month without playing," Lodi said. "I am very happy with the club's medical staff because I have played 90 minutes, feeling very well. I wanted to thank the club, the physiotherapists and the doctors.

“Thank you also to the fans for their support. Al Hilal is in my heart.”

Comeback complete, Lodi can focus now on getting back to full match sharpness during the RSL's downtime. For sure, he will be required to be at his best for when the top flight resumes, in Matchweek 26, with its second Derby Week.

There, Al Hilal host third-placed Al Nassr in the Capital Derby on April 4 as they seek to narrow the gap to Al Ittihad to a single point before the frontrunners face Jeddah rivals Al Ahli in the Sea Derby 24 hours later.

And, with the RSL paused for a few weeks, Lodi envisages Al Hilal will be in even better shape by the time the match action rolls around again.

“It will be a well-deserved break because so many things happened to our team," he said. "We had players injured. This break until the game against Al Nassr will allow us to get all the injured players back. And on game day, we will have to play a great match.”