Mohamed Salah's AFCON dream cut short as Liverpool confirm ‘proper’ injury

In a major blow to both Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) aspirations and Liverpool's upcoming fixtures, star forward Mohamed Salah has been sidelined with a "proper hamstring tear."

The 31-year-old picked up the injury in a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Ghana, with the severity of the tear worse than initially expected. This setback marks a significant blow to Egypt's campaign as well as Liverpool's plans for the coming weeks.

The extent of Salah's injury was confirmed by Liverpool's assistant manager, Pep Lijnders, who described it as a "proper tear in his hamstring." Despite hopes for a swift recovery, Lijnders indicated that Salah would likely be out for three to four weeks, assuming a smooth rehabilitation process. 

He emphasised the collaborative effort between the medical teams of Egypt and Liverpool, highlighting it as a model for how international and club football should synergise for the player's welfare.

Salah's commitment to his national team was brought into question by Egypt's record appearance-maker, Ahmed Hassan. However, Lijnders was quick to defend Salah, insisting on his unwavering dedication to both club and country. 

The decision to bring Salah back to Anfield was made solely to provide him with the best medical care possible, aiming to expedite his return to fitness.