McKeal Abdullah

{{Infobox football biography

| name = McKeal Abdullah

| full_name = McKeal Aroon Abdullah{{cite web|url=https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-media-assets.gc.eflservices.co.uk/f9455bd0-4dac-11ee-8864-711544c578ce.pdf|title=SQUAD LIST 2023/24 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS|publisher=EFL|accessdate=5 December 2023|archive-date=27 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127163307/https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-media-assets.gc.eflservices.co.uk/f9455bd0-4dac-11ee-8864-711544c578ce.pdf|url-status=live}}

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|7|7|df=y}}{{soccerway|mckeal-abdullaah/895188|accessdate=5 December 2023}}

| birth_place = Nottingham, England

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Ilkeston Town
(on loan from Mansfield Town)

| clubnumber = 28

| years1 = 2023–

| clubs1 = Mansfield Town

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2024–2025

| clubs2 = → Basford United (loan)

| caps2 = 17

| goals2 = 4

| years3 = 2025–

| clubs3 = → Ilkeston Town (loan)

| caps3 = 13

| goals3 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2024–

| nationalteam1 = Pakistan

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 25 April 2025 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 25 March 2025 (UTC)

| youthyears1 = 2021–

| youthclubs1 = Mansfield Town

}}

McKeal Aroon Abdullah ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq| مکیل ہارون عبداللہ}}}}; born 7 July 2005) is a footballer who plays as a forward for Northern Premier League club Ilkeston Town, on loan from Mansfield Town academy.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/teams/u21s |access-date=2024-08-11 |department=Teams |title=U21s |website=www.mansfieldtown.net}} Born in England, he plays for the Pakistan national football team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1191337-england-born-mckeal-adam-join-national-team-s-camp|title=England-born McKeal, Adam join national team's camp|website=The News International}}

Club career

= Mansfield Town =

The 2022–23 season saw Abdullah score twenty-five goals across all competitions for the Mansfield Town Under-19s team, winning the Academy Player of the Year award, {{cite tweet|number=1653308344168325121|title=💫 Forward McKeal Abdullah is our 2022/23 Academy Player of the Season. McKeal's parents Steph and Aroon Abdullah collect the award on his behalf. #Stags 🟡🔵 {{!}} @MTFCAcademy|user=mansfieldtownfc|author-link=Mansfield Town F.C.|date=2 May 2023|accessdate=5 December 2023}} and being awarded a first professional contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2023/may/six-under-19s-sign-professional-contracts/|title=Six under-19s sign professional contracts|website=www.mansfieldtown.net|date=12 May 2023|accessdate=5 December 2023|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004124841/https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2023/may/six-under-19s-sign-professional-contracts/|url-status=live}}

On 8 August 2023, he made his senior debut as a late substitute in a 2–0 EFL Cup first round victory over Grimsby Town,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66368364|title=Mansfield Town 2–0 Grimsby Town|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 August 2023|accessdate=5 December 2023|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811185056/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66368364|url-status=live}} making his league debut in similar circumstances four days later against Morecambe.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66413541|title=Mansfield Town 3–0 Morecambe|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 August 2023|accessdate=5 December 2023|archive-date=16 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816115119/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66413541|url-status=live}}

On 4 October 2024, Abdullah joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Basford United on loan until January 2025.{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/100045362983799/posts/1168397388015683/?app=fbl |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=www.facebook.com}} In February 2025, he joined Ilkeston Town on loan for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=https://ilkestontownfc.co.uk/mansfield-town-duo-arrive-on-loan/|title=Mansfield Town duo arrive on loan|website=ilkestontownfc.co.uk|date=5 February 2025|accessdate=7 February 2025}}

International career

Abdullah is eligible to play for Pakistan due to his heritage. In November 2023, the Pakistan Football Federation contacted Abdullah, along with Adil Nabi and Mohammad Fazal for the next international window.{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Faiz |date=2023-11-23 |title=Pakistan Likely to Get Exciting New Diaspora Footballers for Next Fixtures |url=https://propakistani.pk/2023/11/23/pakistan-likely-to-get-exciting-new-diaspora-footballers-for-next-fixtures/amp/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=ProPakistani |language=en-US |archive-date=27 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227114436/https://propakistani.pk/2023/11/23/pakistan-likely-to-get-exciting-new-diaspora-footballers-for-next-fixtures/amp/ |url-status=live }} On 6 June 2024, Abdullah made his debut for Pakistan against Saudi Arabia in the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers as a substitute in the additional time.{{Cite web |title=FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: McKeal Abdullah set to represent Pakistan, Easah Suliman unavailable |url=https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/36264-fifa-world-cup-2026-qualifiers-mckeal-abdullah-set-to-represent-pakistan-easah-suliman-unavailable |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=www.geosuper.tv |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Pakistan vs. Saudi Arabia - 6 June 2024 - Soccerway |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2024/06/06/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/pakistan/saudi-arabia/4190988/# |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=uk.soccerway.com}}

Career statistics

= Club =

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=3\|Mansfield Town \|2023–24{{soccerbase season\|175088\|2023\|accessdate=5 December 2023}} \|League Two \|1	0	0	0	1	0	2{{efn\|name=EFT\|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}	0	4	0
2024–25{{soccerbase season\|175088\|2024\|accessdate=23 December 2024}} \|League One \|0	0	0	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=EFT}}	0	1	0
colspan=2\|Total !1\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|1\|\|0\|\|3\|\|0\|\|5\|\|0
Basford United (loan)	2024–25{{Cite web\|url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/basford-united/appearances/2024-2025/mckeal-abdullah/976753\|title=Basford United – Appearances – McKeal Abdullah – 2024-2025\|publisher=Football Web Pages\|access-date=23 December 2024}} \|Northern Premier League Premier Division \|17	4	0	0	colspan=2\|–	5{{efn\|name=FAT\|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}}	2	22	6
colspan="3"\|Career total !18	4	0	0	1	0	8	2	27	6

= International =

{{updated|25 March 2025{{Cite web |last=Strack-Zimmermann |first=Benjamin |title=Mckeal Abdullah (Player) |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/94976/Mckeal_Abdullah.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=www.national-football-teams.com |language=en}}}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team !Year !Apps !Goals
rowspan="2" \|Pakistan \|2024 \|2 \|0
2025 \|1 \|0
colspan="2" \|Total !3 !0

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+Appearances and goals by national team and year

!National team

!Year

!Apps

!Goals

rowspan="2" |Pakistan

|2024

2025

colspan="2" |Total

Honours

Mansfield Town

EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2023–24{{Cite web |url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2024/april/boss-character-was-central-to-promotion/ |title=Boss: Character was central to promotion |access-date=7 May 2024 |archive-date=7 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507143411/https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2024/april/boss-character-was-central-to-promotion/ |url-status=live }}