Gavin Hunt crossing fingers on unfit Abubeker Nasir

The Ethiopian forward joined on a one-year deal from crosstown rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, but there remains doubts over his fitness with his last competitive match having been in December last year. 

Hunt is crossing fingers Nasir can improve the SuperSport attack, which has managed just two goals in seven matches this season.

"He hasn't played for two years, obviously he needs to get fit, he hasn't kicked a ball. So it's really – I don't know, we're going to have to see," said Hunt.

"Obviously we've got more time [in training] again, because now I see the fixtures have changed again. So, we play on Wednesday and then we don't play for a month again until the end of November.

"So, I mean, it's absolutely crazy. So hopefully we can get somebody fit to come back, but I don't think it's about he strikers, I think it's about the construction of players in certain positions that haven't been available.

"And we can't afford to have one or two out, while the squads that we play against, they can afford to have four or five out and not look any different."

Matsatsantsa only announced today that Nasir had joined a one-year contract – outside the transfer window – without any further details, but Hunt reckons it was a loan agreement. 

The coach also feels the player needs time to find his feet after two bad injuries in Chloorkop.

"I don't know, I can't really tell you the inside [information], but I think it's on a year sort-of loan deal, and obviously we have to try and get him fit," he added.

"He's had a major problem there – it was an horrendous tackle on the boy by the Pirates goalkeeper [Siyabonga Mpontshane], I mean, you can go to jail for those types of tackles.

"But ja, it's unfortunate, so he's been in and out, and I think they had to move a foreigner off their books, so it doesn't help us if somebody's not fit to play."

READ: Mngqithi update on Abubeker Nasir, Sipho Mbule futures