XtraTime Web Desk: Egyptian star forward Mohamed Salah is ‘confident’ of playing in the upcoming World Cup as he suffered a shoulder injury in the Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid.
Salah left the field in tears after a first-half challenge with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.
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“Your love and support will give me the strength I need,” said Salah.
Egypt will play their first game of the World Cup in Russia on 15 June against Uruguay in Yekaterinburg. However, the Egyptian FA later tweeted that they had been informed Salah had sustained “a sprain in the shoulder ligaments”, raising hopes he could yet travel to Russia.
Salah landed awkwardly on his shoulder after a challenge from Real captain Sergio Ramos, with the Spanish defender appearing to keep hold of the Egyptian’s arm as they tumbled to the ground.
The Egyptian international was assessed by Liverpool’s medical team on the pitch and deemed not fit to continue.
He then travelled to a local hospital in Kiev before regrouping with the squad after the 3-1 defeat.
Liverpool later released an official statement, reiterating comments made by Jurgen Klopp earlier in the night.
Klopp told his post-match press conference: “It’s a serious injury, a really serious injury. He is in the hospital for an X-ray. It’s either the collarbone or the shoulder itself. It doesn’t look good, that’s it.”
The NHS says that a dislocated shoulder can take 12-16 weeks to recover from.
“A dislocated shoulder takes between 12 and 16 weeks to heal after the shoulder has been put back into place.”
The World Cup begins in just over two weeks’ time, in 18 days. Egypt’s first match, against Uruguay, takes place on the second day of the tournament.
Salah will obviously receive world-class treatment and there is a possibility that it is not a severe dislocation.
But it would appear very unlikely he will return to any form of training within the next two weeks.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher suffered a dislocated shoulder in the 2010/11 season and was ruled out for two months.
The man himself is optimistic. In an Instagram post on Sunday evening, Salah said he expects to play in Russia with the Egyptian national team.
“It was a very tough night, but I’m a fighter,” he wrote.
“Despite the odds, I’m confident that I’ll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need.”
It was a very tough night, but I’m a fighter. Despite the odds, I’m confident that I’ll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need. pic.twitter.com/HTfKF4S70e
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 27, 2018