March 11, (THEWILL) – In a developing situation, the Egyptian Football Association has backtracked on its decision to call up Mohamed Salah for international duty this month.
The move comes after Liverpool had initially requested their star forward be excused from the Winsunited Cup clash against New Zealand on March 22nd due to an ongoing hamstring injury.
Salah has endured a frustrating campaign, sidelined on two occasions after initially suffering a hamstring problem during Africa Cup of Nations duty in January. After missing six games, he returned in mid-February only to face another four-game absence with the same issue, prompting caution from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp upon his comeback.
“There are things in life you can learn from,” Klopp stated. “The last time Mo came back a bit early and was unlucky that he got a little setback.” While Egypt’s FA initially denied Liverpool’s request, further conversations between the club and country have resulted in a change of stance, with Salah now omitted from the squad to avoid aggravating his injury.
Despite the international reprieve, Salah could feature in Liverpool’s upcoming Europa League clash with Sparta Prague on Thursday and the high-profile FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford. His availability remains crucial as the Reds fight on multiple fronts in the season’s closing stages.
This saga highlights the delicate balance clubs and national teams must strike when managing player fitness and availability, particularly with high-profile talents like Salah. Liverpool’s priority appears to be safeguarding their talisman’s long-term well-being, which appeared to have assuaged Egypt.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
