Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian forward and Liverpool star, is set to return to his club for treatment following a hamstring injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This development raises concerns about the severity of his injury and its potential impact on both his national team's performance in the tournament and Liverpool's ongoing campaign.
Salah's injury occurred during Egypt's 2-2 draw with Ghana in a Group B fixture last Thursday. The extent of his injury remains unclear, but it is significant enough to warrant his return to Liverpool for rehabilitation. Despite his absence, Liverpool has maintained its lead in the Premier League, securing a recent victory over Bournemouth.
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp expressed that it is sensible for Salah to undergo rehabilitation with the club. "However long he's out, probably everybody sees it like this, it makes sense that he's doing the rehab with us or with our people," Klopp stated. He also mentioned being in contact with Salah and the club's medical team since the incident.
Egypt's national team, still competing in AFCON, had hoped Salah could return for the semi-finals, should they qualify. However, following additional examinations and consultations between the national team's medical staff and Liverpool, it was decided that Salah would return to England after Egypt's Group B finale against Cape Verde.
The Egyptian Football Association issued a statement confirming Salah's return: "After additional examinations were conducted on Mohamed Salah during the last hours, and after communication between the national team's medical staff and his counterpart at Liverpool FC, it was decided that the player will return to England after the Cape Verde match tomorrow to complete his treatment, with the hope that he will join the national team in the semi-final of the AFCON if we qualify."
Klopp, when asked about Salah's potential return to AFCON, noted that Salah might rejoin the national team for the final if fit and if Egypt advances that far. Earlier, Klopp had hinted at the seriousness of Salah's hamstring problem, emphasizing how rarely Salah has missed games for Liverpool.
Salah, a key player for both Liverpool and the Egyptian national team, has had a remarkable impact in recent years. His absence from AFCON is a significant blow to Egypt, who last won the tournament in 2010 and were runners-up in 2017 and 2021 editions. Salah himself expressed his desire to win the AFCON trophy, saying, "I would love to win it, absolutely. It will happen somehow - that is what I believe. Whatever I believe, I achieve - so sooner or later, it will happen."
The situation presents a challenging scenario for Liverpool, balancing the need for their star player's quick recovery with the importance of his contribution to the team. Salah's return to Liverpool for treatment underscores the delicate nature of managing player injuries, particularly during critical phases of both club and international competitions.
