View: Player starts to shine after controversial West Brom exit

“Definitely it wasn’t my decision, it wasn’t a football decision to be fair, I’m very disappointed,” said Bilic, as quoted by the Independent after the 29-year-old’s move to Saudi Arabia was confirmed.

Hegazi’s one and only West Brom appearance this season came days before he joined Al-Ittihad when he helped keep a clean sheet in a goalless draw against Burnley at The Hawthorns.

Since then, Bilic’s side have played three, lost two and conceded four goals.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Hegazi has hit the ground running at Al-Ittihad by playing 90 minutes in their matches against Al-Ahli and Al-Taawon.

Stats by WyScout show that Hegazi completed 86.2 per cent of his passes across both of those games, which ended as a 2-0 win to Al-Ittihad and a 1-1 draw respectively.

Hegazi also completed 14 interceptions, 17 recoveries, 10 clearances and won 38.5 per cent of the 13 aerial duels he was involved with across the two matches.

The former West Brom defender has also been called up to his regularly international duty with Egypt and played all 90 minutes of his country’s 1-0 win over Togo in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Saturday.

According to WyScout, Hegazi completed four interceptions, an impressive 10 recoveries, three clearances, won 57% of aerial duels and found a team-mate with 88 per cent of his passes.

Hegazi’s doing well in the post-West Brom era of his career and we’re happy to see that.

While he is playing against far inferior teams in Saudi Arabia than he would have done in England, at least he’s playing football and playing football at a good standard.

In other West Brom news, this Albion ace was torn to shreds for his international display on Friday.

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