PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Khalid Boutaib - Moroccan forward to lead club side out of trouble

by Bertin Basson

Friday Dec 01, 2017. 10:00

Moroccan forward Khalid Boutaib will be aiming to lead his club side up the Süper Lig standings when they return to action this coming weekend.

Yeni Malatyaspor, who currently sit in 13th spot on the log standings, are away to Akhisarspor on Saturday afternoon.

Boutaib played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw against Besiktas in the club's latest league fixture, but remained on the bench in a midweek cup defeat to Osmanlispor.

MOROCCO’S BEST AND WORST CASE DRAW SCENARIOS

Boutaib has bagged six goals in 12 games this season for Yeni Malatyaspor, with 30-year-old the third highest scoring African in the league. Former English Premier League stars Emmanuel Adebayor and Arouna Kone have scored eight and seven goals apiece

The league's leading scorer is Frenchman Bafetimbi Gomis who has scored 13 goals for Galatasaray this season.

The Atlas Lions will today discover their group opponents for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, having booked their return to the world showpiece for the first time in 20 years.