Mohamed Salah might return to action this weekend after suffering a hamstring injury at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Following the conclusion of the group stages, the Liverpool attacker went to Merseyside for treatment after suffering a setback in Egypt’s second group game against Ghana on January 18.
Following the end of the group stages, the Liverpool forward returned to Merseyside for treatment after suffering the setback in Egypt’s second group match against Ghana on January 18. The 31-year-old faced intense criticism in his native country as a result of this choice, even though Ramy Abbas Issa, Salah’s agent, later disclosed that the injury was more serious than first thought and would require 21 to 28 days to heal.
Such a time-scale would have left the Egypt captain facing a race against time to be fit in time for the AFCON final on February 11, with a 21-day absence sidelining him until February 8 – the day after the tournament’s semi-finals. The Pharaohs’ round-of-16 exit would ultimately make the matter moot.
The 31-year-old received harsh criticism in his home country as a result of this decision, despite the fact that Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, later revealed that the injury was more serious than originally anticipated and would need 21 to 28 days to heal. Such a timetable would have put the Egypt captain in a race against the clock to be ready for the AFCON final on February 11, with a 21-day absence keeping him out until February 8 – the day after the tournament’s semi-finals. The Pharaohs’ round-of-16 departure would eventually render the topic irrelevant. Salah may be able to return for Liverpool’s home game against Burnley on Saturday. However, if his forced absence lasts 28 days, his return will have to wait until February 17, when the Reds visit to Brentford. Despite being ruled out for three to four weeks, Salah was lambasted in Egypt, with two of the country’s biggest legends criticising his ‘abandonment’. Ahmed Hassan, the Pharaohs’ record appearance maker, would demand that Salah’should continue with the team no matter what’. Meanwhile, record goalscorer Hossam Hassan said he would have kicked Salah out of the camp if he had sought to return to Liverpool, insisting it was the wrong option. “If Salah feels he wants to travel, he should travel and not return to the national team again because the injury is not severe,” he was cited as saying by KingFut. “He needs physiotherapy, which is accessible through the national team. “A hamstring issue does not necessitate extensive facilities in Liverpool. Big clubs always send physicians and physical therapists with their star players to these tournaments, and Liverpool knows that if Salah requires anything, they will send doctors to him. “Salah, with his high value, should remain with the national squad, both ethically and psychologically. It has an impact on other teams because he is available at any time, but his departure will have a negative impact on Egypt and a favourable impact on the opponents.
“If I were Egypt’s manager and he expressed a desire to travel to Liverpool, I would tell him to stay there because we have capable players in the national team.” “Salah is one of the best individuals to have won success for Egypt abroad, but the national team is a red line for anyone. Even if you are injured and unable to play, you play an important role on both a technical and moral level.” He went on to say, “Even if we lose the final, all of the players worked hard, and I don’t want to make great declarations. “I consider it a privilege for everyone to be there at the Egyptian national team camp. He is a key player, and it is now the coaching staff’s obligation to prepare the remaining players. “We don’t target Salah; he’s a legend beyond Egypt. However, the decision for his treatment in Liverpool was incorrect.” 
While Jurgen Klopp, Pepijn Lijnders, and Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, were quick to defend Salah and call out those who questioned the Egypt captain’s decisions, the Liverpool talisman may now face an awkward meeting after Hossam Hassan was appointed as Egypt’s new manager, just weeks after his public criticism of Salah. Mohamed Salah faces a clash with their new manager, who lambasted and threatened to expel the Liverpool forward. uickly the two can clear the air after the new Egypt boss openly insulted the Pharaohs’ finest player.
– Liverpool Echo Salah was named Pharaoh’s captain in September 2019, but it’s unclear whether his new international boss intends to keep him as captain. It appears unlikely that he would drop the forward, despite Hassan’s prior comment that if he had been manager, Salah would not have returned to AFCON.
