Former Egypt legend Ahmed Hassan has insisted Mohamed Salah remains in the Ivory Coast squad despite a serious injury.
Salah is expected to return to England on Monday after the final Africa Cup of Nations group stage match in Egypt to recover from an injury sustained last week. The Liverpool winger had to be substituted before half-time in the Pharaohs’ game against Ghana and later announced he had a hamstring problem. Early indications suggested the injury was relatively minor and Salah could return for the final knockout stages of the tournament as Egypt progress.
However, Salah’s agent Rami Abbas issued an update on his client’s condition on Monday, revealing that the midfielder could be sidelined for up to a month while he recovers, putting his participation in the rest of the AFCON in jeopardy. he wrote “The best opportunity and participation in the AFCON at the moment is to go through intensive rehabilitation in the UK and join the team once he is fit.”With the AFCON finals scheduled for February 11, Abbas’ schedule is unlikely to touch Salah’s teammates before the finals.
Meanwhile, Salah’s decision to return to Merseyside to work with Liverpool’s medical team has drawn criticism from some, including Egypt’s record signing Ahmed Hassan. The four-time AFCON winner even accused Manchester United’s number 11 of “planning to leave”. He was quoted as saying (via the Daily Mail): “I’ve always supported Salah and I’m delighted he’s been named captain.
“There was nothing wrong with what he said, but it turned out that he was about to leave the Egyptian camp. Can a player leave and return to a national team camp under AFCON regulations? “He managed to save someone from the Liverpool medical staff during the game. Again, he is the captain. Even if you have only one leg, you have to stay on the team no matter what.
Meanwhile, Liverpool released a statement on Monday night outlining the club’s plans following Salah’s return to Merseyside. “Mohammed Salah will return to the AXA Training Center on Wednesday to begin an intensive rehabilitation program with Liverpool’s medical staff following a muscle injury sustained against Egypt last week.
“The striker was carried off in the first half of the Africa Cup of Nations match against Ghana with a more serious injury than initially feared and an agreement has been reached with the Egyptian Football Association for Salah to receive treatment in Liverpool .”
