Mohamed Salah has begun rehabilitation on his hamstring and said Thursday that he will do “everything possible” to rejoin Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Salah returned to Liverpool on Wednesday for treatment on the injury he sustained during Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana a week ago.
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“Yesterday I started the treatment and rehabilitation program 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 his social media channels.
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.
The AFCON final is on Feb. 11.
“Egypt and Liverpool both have the same interest, we want Mo Salah fit as soon as possible,” Klopp told beIN SPORTS after his side reached the finals of the League Cup by beating Fulham on aggregate on Wednesday.
“If he stays in Africa and they can’t do the proper treatment, it will just delay everything, especially for Egypt if they go through the tournament.
“We bring him here not because we want to take him away from Egypt but just to offer the best medical treatment.
“It’s all agreed. If Salah is fit and Egypt go to the final, it was always clear, he goes back, 100%. Mo wants that, we want that.”
Record seven-times champions Egypt finished second in Group B with three points following three successive 2-2 draws. They play the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16 on Sunday.
Klopp also hit out at criticism of Salah’s decision to return for treatment, with some pundits and former players saying that as captain he should have remained with the Egypt squad.
“If somebody questions the loyalty of Mo Salah they should ask themselves if their loyalty is right, because Mo Salah is definitely the most loyal Egyptian I’ve met in my life,” he said.
Information from Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
