SouthernWorldwide.com – The Egyptian national football team’s manager, Hossam Hassan, has provided an update on the left knee injury sustained by star forward Mohamed Salah during their recent 1-1 draw against Iran in the World Cup.
Salah was notably substituted in the 57th minute of the match, with Mostafa Zico coming on in his place. Hassan confirmed that the team’s medical staff is currently evaluating Salah’s condition.
Further examinations are scheduled to take place once the team returns to their hotel. Hassan conveyed that Salah himself expressed optimism about the injury.
“I talked to Salah and he said he’s going to be OK and it’s not a big injury,” Hassan stated, with his comments translated from Arabic. “We still have time to talk to the medical staff. I think he will be back, and when I spoke to Salah he assured me he’s going to be OK.”
Prior to the tournament, Hassan had voiced a measured confidence in the squad assembled around Salah. The Egyptian team has since met Hassan’s objective of progressing beyond the group stage in the expanded World Cup field.
However, the potential absence of Salah from the knockout round match against Australia next Friday would represent a significant setback for Egypt.
Salah, a four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, recently scored his 68th international goal for the Pharaohs in their inaugural World Cup victory, a 3-1 triumph over New Zealand. The 34-year-old has also contributed two assists in the tournament thus far.
