Egypt coach Hector Cuper has ended any further speculations by including Mohamed Salah in Egypt’s World Cup squad, despite a shoulder injury which will keep him out for three weeks.
Last week, a statement on the EFA’s Facebook page read: “Dr Mohamed Abu Ula confirmed that the period of absence of Salah due to injury will not exceed three weeks.”
Under such a timeframe, Salah would likely miss Egypt’s first two games in Group A, but could return for the stage’s finale against Saudi Arabia on June 25.
Egypt have been working together with Liverpool on Salah’s fitness since the forward suffered the injury in the first half of the Reds’ defeat to Real Madrid in Saturday’s Champions League final.
Speaking after the Champions League final, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp described Salah’s shoulder as a “really serious injury,” but the Egyptian Football Federation said it was optimistic that he will be ready for their World Cup opener against Uruguay on June 15.
However, the new timeframe provided by Egypt means Salah would be back at the latest on June 20, meaning he will miss the opener and likely their second game against Russia on June 19.
A four-week recovery would still leave Salah ready for the knockout stage if Egypt get there.
Salah had travelled to Valencia, Spain, to undergo treatment but has been seen without a sling as he undergoes treatment.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Essam El Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly).
Defenders: Ahmed Fathi, Saad Samir, Ayman Ashraf (all Al Ahly), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Shafy (Al Fateh), Ahmed Hegazi (West Brom), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC).
Midfielders: Tarek Hamed, (Zamalek), Shikabala (Zamalek), Abdallah Said (Al Ahli), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ittihad), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Mahmoud Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos Athens).
Forwards: Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
