Mohamed Salah is planning to return to Merseyside to be treated by Liverpool’s club doctors after an injury suffered playing for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations – but he could still feature in the tournament in the Ivory Coast if he recovers in time.
Salah limped off in the first half of the Pharaohs’ 2-2 draw with Ghana on Thursday night and, despite initially clutching his hamstring, the Egypt FA confirmed the 31-year-old had suffered a strain in his posterior muscle.
The forward sidestepped any questions in a grilling with the Egyptian press on Saturday but Jurgen Klopp said on Sunday night that Salah is likely to be treated by Liverpool’s doctors instead of remaining at the tournament. It was later confirmed by the Egyptian FA that he would travel back to England to undergo his recovery.
‘That’s the plan,’ said Klopp when asked if Salah might return to Merseyside. ‘If that’s already decided (trails off…). However long he is out, it probably makes sense for everybody to (rehab) with us and our people. That’s the plan. If that’s written in stone already, I don’t know.’
Klopp spoke to Salah on the phone immediately after the game on Thursday and the Egyptian has been in constant contact with Liverpool’s medical teams.
Mohamed Salah is planning to return to Merseyside to be treated by Liverpool’s club doctors
Salah was forced off during Egypt’s Group B clash against Ghana with a hamstring injury
‘He’s contacted our doctor and the doc tells me the news. So… I think he will (be back).
‘I’m not a medic. I’m not a doctor. I would say if Egypt qualifies for the final then probably yes (he could go back). Ivory Coast I’m sure it’s a wonderful country, but we have no people from us there. They have people who have to take care of the players who are playing.’
The Egyptian FA said in a statement: ‘The Egyptian FA announces that Mohamed Salah will travel to England to receive treatment following the match between Egypt and Cape Verde, with the hope that he will join the Egyptian national team if it qualifies for the semi-finals.’
Salah was initially ruled out for two games at the Africa Cup of Nations after tests revealed the extent of the Liverpool star’s latest injury.
The 31-year-old was previously withdrawn during Egypt’s Group B clash against Ghana with a suspected hamstring issue and there were fears of a long-term layoff.
However, concerns from both Egypt and Liverpool supporters have now been quelled after Salah’s national team provided an update on his condition.
Providing an update on Salah’s condition, the Egyptian side’s official statement read: ‘Mohamed Salah suffered a strain in his hamstring muscle and will miss two matches in the African Nations
‘The tests that Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team, underwent, showed that he suffered a strain in the posterior muscle, and he will miss the team’s next two matches in the African Nations against Cape Verde, and then the round of 16 match in the event of qualification.’
The news will come as relief to Liverpool supporters who feared Salah could be set for a long spell on the sidelines amid their Premier League title chase.
There was concern that Salah was set for a significant spell on the sidelines
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp revealed Salah is planning to return to Merseyside
