Al Ahly playmaker Walid Soliman will not require surgery on a knee injury, but is set to be sidelined for five weeks.

The veteran suffered a knock during the Red Devils’ CAF Champions League group stage match against Algeria’s JS Saoura last Friday night.

Subsequent scans revealed that Soliman has damage to the cartilage and ligaments in the knee, but the issued can be treated without the player going under the knife.

“Walid [Soliman] will not need knee surgery. He has already started a five-week rehabilitation programme,” Ahly’s doctor Khaled Mahmoud was quoted as saying by the club’s official website.

“Another doctor has agreed with my opinion that surgery is not necessary,” the doctor explained, before adding that Walid Azaro is about four weeks away from returning for the Egyptian giants.

“Azaro is continuing his rehabilitation programme for a muscular tear. He will rejoin the trainings after four weeks,” said Mahmoud.

After a 1-1 draw with Saoura, Ahly remained at the top of Group D with four points. They will be back in CAF club action on February 2 with a home match against Tanzania’s Simba.

On the domestic level, Ahly currently lie fourth on the Egyptian Premier League table with 27 points from 14 matches.