ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire – Mohamed Salah has begun rehabilitation on his hamstring, noting that he will do “everything possible” to rejoin Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
The 31-year-old forward returned to Liverpool Wednesday for treatment on the injury he sustained during Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana a week ago.
“I started the treatment and rehabilitation programme and I will do everything possible to be ready as soon as possible and return to the national team as was agreed upon from the beginning,” Salah wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter according to AP.
Salah, who was one of the most high-profile players at the AFCON, has what Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders said was a “proper tear in his hamstring,” expected to keep the winger out for three to four weeks.
Salah is expected to be sidelined for around four weeks as a result of the injury he suffered while playing for Egypt in their draw against Ghana at the at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations last week.
Egypt will face DR Congo on Sunday in the round of 16, if the Pharaohs advance, they will face the winner between Equatorial Guinea and Guinea in the quarter-finals.
The AFCON final is on Feb. 11.
Salah will need to make a faster recovery to rejoin Egypt before the final on Feb. 11 – 2½ weeks away – while his match fitness would also have to be a concern for Egypt coach Rui Vitoria.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has also said that Salah will definitely return to AFCON if he recovers in time from injury and Egypt reach the final.
Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders said Salah is expected to return to action in three to four weeks if there are no setbacks in his recovery.
Seven-time champion Egypt is yet to win a game at the tournament, but it edged into the last 16 with three points from three games. The Pharaohs next play on Sunday against Congo, another team that progressed to the knockout round without winning a game.
“Egypt and Liverpool have exactly the same interests, we want Mo Salah fit as quickly as possible,” Klopp said.
“If he stays there and can’t do the proper treatment that will just delay everything, especially for Egypt if they go through the tournament.
“So, we bring him here not because we want to take him away from Egypt but because we want to offer the best medical treatment, that’s all we want,” the German added.
“All parties agreed that it makes sense he is doing rehab here. We have a season to play so we want him fit but if he is fit earlier then as long as Egypt is still in the tournament he will go back, that is clear. Then it’s a win-win,” he underlined according to AFP.
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