Liverpool dealt major blow as Mohamed Salah’s agent reveals injury is ‘more serious than first thought’

Mohamed Salah was forced off in Egypt’s AFCON opener against Ghana last week (Getty)

Mohamed Salah’s agent has revealed that the Liverpool forward’s hamstring injury is ‘more serious than first thought’ and that the 31-year-old will be sidelined for at least three weeks.

Salah was forced off in the first half of Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B opener last Thursday.

Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Sunday that Salah will return to the UK for treatment but insisted that the forward will be able to play again at AFCON if he recovers and Egypt are still in the tournament.

However, Salah’s agent has effectively ruled Salah out of the remainder of AFCON by claiming that the Liverpool forward will be out for ’21-28 days’.

In a post on X on Monday evening, Salah’s representative, Ramy Abbas, wrote: ‘Mohammed’s injury is more serious than first thought and he will be out for 21-28 days, and not 2 games.

‘His best chance at participating in the current AFCON is by undergoing intensive rehabilitation in the UK and rejoining the team as soon as he is fit.’

Speaking after Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, Klopp first revealed that Salah will travel back to the club for treatment.

‘That’s the plan, if that’s already decided 100 per cent, I don’t know but that’s the plan,’ Klopp said

‘However long he’s out, I think, probably everyone sees this, it makes sense that he does rehab with us or our people, that’s the plan. If that’s written in stone already, I don’t know.’

Asked if he has spoken to Salah, Klopp replied: ‘Yes, directly after but since the night it happened he’s in contact our doctor and the doc tells me the news. I think he will be back.’

Asked if Salah will be allowed to return to the Africa Cup of Nations if Egypt progress in the tournament, Klopp said: ‘I’m not a doctor, I would say if he’s fit before, if Egypt qualify for the final and he’s fit before the final, probably yes. Why not, it’s clear, that’s the tournament.

‘But now it’s about, Ivory Coast I’m sure is a wonderful country but it’s probably better now for players, we have no people from us there, and their people have to take care of the players who are playing.’