Robbie Fowler would be 'amazed' if Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah was fit to take on Russia

Fowler said Salah would be desperate to take his place for the Pharaohs in the do or die clash.

“He’s the type of player who doesn’t want to miss out and he’s got a lot to give,” said the former England striker.

“But I don’t know, the fact that he never played the other day (against Uruguay) tells you he’d be a lot sorer than a lot of us envisaged.

“All the talk is he’s going to be ready for the next game (today), but if he’s ready for the next game he should have been ready for the game just gone.”

However Fowler is still optimistic about Egypt’s chances in the World Cup, even without Salah, and says it’s unfair to label them as a one-man team.

“I think you’re being a bit unfair,” he said. “I know they lost the game but it could have gone either way. I thought they were a little bit unlucky Egypt to be fair (against Uruguay).

“They qualified and obviously Mo Salah is the main talisman, he’s one of those players who can get goals out of anywhere. But it’s like any team you look at – Argentina with (Lionel) Messi, you’re obviously relying on other players to come into the fold.

“You look at even Brazil – there’s a lot of pressure on the likes of (Philippe) Coutinho, there’s Neymar to come in – but you always need the player to deliver.

“So instead of like Egypt, putting all the pressure on Mo Salah to get fit and to do well and to score goals, it should never be about that.

“He never qualified on his own. As much as he scored the winning goals, it takes a little bit more than just the one man.”

The 43-year-old believes that a fully fit Salah would have a massive impact on the tournament.

“If Mo Salah was to come into this game – fully fit Mo Salah – then it would have been brilliant watching him,” he said, “and I actually believe he could’ve been the man to get them (Egypt) out of that group.

“As it turns out Russia had a great result against Saudi (a 5-0 victory) but there’s still a lot to play for, that’s why he’s maybe going to play the next game.”

Quizzed about the how Salah suffered the injury in the Champions League final, Fowler said although Sergio Ramos “knew what he was doing” he did not believe the Real Madrid defender set out to intentionally hurt the Egyptian.

“I thought Ramos as a player knew what he was doing,” said Fowler, “I’m not saying he knew what he was doing in getting him really really injured.

“He (Ramos)… wanted to stop him (Salah) from doing what he does and maybe pull him down.

“But of course, I think everyone who has played the game will tell you – yeah he’s meant to bring him down – but I don’t think he’s meant to hurt him to the capacity (extent) that he has.

“That’s just him trying to get one of the star players from Liverpool… just maybe try to get them to be quiet.

“It happens all the time in football – I wouldn’t put too much blame on him. I mean Ramos’ done it but players do it all the time. It’s just trying to get an onus on a centre forward.

“But I don’t think he’s meant to hurt him to the way he has hurt him.”