Confusion reigns over Mohamed Salah's fitness after Liverpool physio rules him out of World Cup

Sport360 staff 01:33 30/05/2018
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  • Mohamed Salah leaves the field injured in Kyiv

    Mohamed Salah faces a fight to play in any of Egypt’s World Cup group games, according to one of Liverpool’s physiotherapists.

    Club physio Ruben Pons has estimated Salah would normally need “three to four weeks” to recover from the left shoulder injury he sustained during Saturday’s Champions League final against Real Madrid.

    A three-week absence would keep Salah out of action until June 19 while four weeks would see the forward sidelined until June 26, the day after Egypt’s last group game.

    Salah may also then need to regain a degree of match fitness.

    Egypt’s opening fixture in Group A is against Uruguay on June 15. They then face Russia on June 19 and Saudi Arabia on June 25.

    “He is sad about what happened but he is totally focused on recovery and seeing when he can be ready,” Pons told Spanish daily, Marca.

    “In principle it will be three to four weeks but we are going to try to reduce those deadlines, that’s the big goal.”

    Salah has flown to Spain to undergo treatment, accompanied by doctors from both Liverpool and the Egyptian national team.

    The 25-year-old had to be substituted during the first half of Liverpool’s defeat in Kiev after being pulled to the ground by Sergio Ramos.

    He left the field in tears but appeared more optimistic on Sunday, when he wrote on Twitter: “It was a very tough night, but I’m a fighter.

    “Despite the odds, I’m confident that I’ll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need.”

    Pons remarks go counter to Egypt’s national team’s doctor who said he was optimistic that Salah could play in the World Cup.

    “Through follow ups on the phone with the national team’s delegation in Italy… the officials at Liverpool said an X-ray on Salah’s shoulder” showed the injury to be in the ligaments, the Egyptian FA said on Twitter on Saturday.

    The national team’s doctor, Mohamed Abou al-Ela, “expressed his optimism that Salah would make it for the World Cup matches according to this diagnosis”, the Association said.

    The Egyptian Minister Youth and Sports Khaled AbdElaziz also expressed optimism. “Mohamed Salah, God willing, will be on the national team’s final list for the World Cup, which is to be announced on June 4,” Abd Elaziz said on Facebook.

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