Egypt's Mohamed Salah out for up to four weeks says Liverpool physio

Forward picked up shoulder injury in Liverpool's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid on May 26 Egypt open World Cup campaign against Uruguay on June 15

Soccer Football - Champions League Final - Real Madrid v Liverpool - NSC Olympic Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine - May 26, 2018   Liverpool's Mohamed Salah reacts after sustaining an injury                    REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Powered by automated translation

Egypt's Mohamed Salah's shoulder injury will keep him out of action for three to four weeks, Liverpool's club physio said, as the forward tries to recover in time for the World Cup.

Salah, 25, is desperate to play for Egypt in only their third World Cup and their first for 28 years.

"He is sad about what happened but is totally focused on recovery, seeing when he can be ready," physio Ruben Pons told Spanish sports newspaper Marca of the injury to Salah during Liverpool's Uefa Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid.

"In principle it will be between three and four weeks but we will try to reduce those dates, that's the big goal," he added.

Salah left the pitch in tears in Kiev following a tangle with Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. On Sunday, Salah labelled himself "a fighter" in a tweet and went on to say he was confident he would be fit for the World Cup, adding: "I'll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need."

Egypt begin their campaign in World Cup Group A against Uruguay on June 15, before facing hosts Russia on June 19 and Saudi Arabia on June 25, meaning if Salah takes four weeks to recover he could be fit in time for the knock-out phases.

Egypt reached the tournament after Salah scored a 95th minute penalty to help them beat Congo 2-1 in October.

Salah, who scored 44 goals in a sensational first season for Liverpool after joining from Roma, was voted Player of the Year by the Football Writers' Association this month, completing a sweep of England's individual prizes and becoming the first African player to win the prestigious award.

______________

More on Mohamed Salah:

John McAuley: Mohamed Salah's fitness race has Egypt and World Cup rivals waiting with bated breath

Richard Jolly: Champions League final proved a cruel affair for Salah and Karius

Mohamed Salah: I'm a fighter and confident I'll recover from injury in time for World Cup

______________