Faisal expected to undergo skin graft procedure this week

Harimau Malaya and Selangor FC winger Faisal Halim is expected to be sidelined for five to six months while he recovers from the acid attack. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Medical staff treating Harimau Malaya and Selangor FC star winger Faisal Halim are waiting on a skin layer from overseas, which will be used in the footballer’s skin graft procedure later this week, says Selangor FC head of sports medicine Dr Hazwan Khair.

He said the surgery is aimed at treating the 26-year-old’s damaged skin, while the muscle injury recovery process would be carried out in a subsequent session, Bernama reported.

“It (skin layer) needs to be brought in from abroad for the purpose of a skin allograft, which is part of the procedure to accelerate the recovery process.

“According to the surgeon, the procedure is scheduled for this week, and there will be follow-up procedures,” he said at a private hospital in Shah Alam today.

Faisal was reported to be in a much better condition this morning after undergoing his second surgery at the hospital yesterday.

Last Sunday, Faisal was injured in an acid attack at a shopping centre in Kota Damansara.

He was confirmed to have suffered fourth-degree burns to several parts of his body and underwent his first surgery on Sunday night.

Another footballer Akhyar Rashid was attacked by two robbers after returning from training last Thursday.

Yesterday, Safiq Rahim, a former national team captain, had his car windscreen smashed with a hammer by unknown assailants.