AGL picks: Omar's screamer, Mabkhout needs to blaze trail

Nilmar (Al Nasr)
It has not been plain sailing for the Brazil striker at the Blue Wave, but his opportunistic hat-trick was worthy of high praise. Each of his goals in the 4-1 thrashing of Sharjah exhibited the cunning absent in most of his other displays. More of the same is required.

Goal of the week
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Ain)
In a game of high-quality goals, ‘Amoory’ – as always – stole the show. His dipping free-kick was laced with importance, gaining the Abu Dhabi derby spoils against Al Wahda and keeping the Boss top of the table. The bewildering movement on the 25-yard effort was Ronaldinho-esque.

Coach of the week
Walter Zenga (Al Shaab)
The long wait is over. Finally, at the 17th time of asking the bottom-placed Commandos have tasted victory. This was a moment to cherish for Zenga. His team were expertly drilled in defence and looked a real threat on
the counter-attack through January buy Ze Eduardo.

Talking points
Where now for Mabkhout?
How much longer should Al Jazira front man Ali Mabkhout remain in the confines of the UAE? This is the question facing the potential trailblazer, who re-issued his commitment to the Pride of Abu Dhabi after earlier in the week being quoted – once again – in the Arabic media as wanting an imminent move away to Europe. What is clear after another lethal hat-trick against Dibba Al Fujairah is that the 2015 Asian Cup top scorer has the potential to excel in the old continent. At 25, it’s his time to seize the moment.