Liverpool sweat over fitness of Mohamed Salah as he pulls out of international duty with Egypt with ankle knock after being pictured in protective boot
- Mohamed Salah has struggled with a persistent ankle knock for the past month
- The Liverpool star returned to first team action but has aggravated the injury
- Salah was in a moon boot at training and will miss Kenya and Comoros games
- Andy Robertson is also a doubt for Crystal Palace clash with ankle knock
- The full back has pulled out of Scotland games against Kazakhstan and Cyprus
Liverpool are sweating over the fitness of star man Mohamed Salah for their game against Crystal Palace as the forward pulls out of the Egypt squad with an ankle injury.
The Egyptian continues to be plagued by an ankle knock picked up in last month’s win over Leicester. The 27-year-old was forced to miss the Premier League leader’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United but has since returned to action in games against Manchester City, Genk and Aston Villa.
However, last season’s joint-golden boot winner was substituted in the 87th minute of Liverpool’s win over City on Sunday after colliding with Fernandinho, with club staff concerned he has further aggravated the knock.
Mohamed Salah has pulled out of the Egypt national team after aggravating an ankle injury
The Liverpool star was pictured in training wearing a moon boot and will miss games against Kenya and Comoros
Mohamed Salah aggravated his ankle problem during Liverpool’s win over Man City on Sunday
And pictures from Egypt training of Salah in a moon boot suggest the star forward has further aggravated the knock, and he will miss games against Kenya and Comoros.
Salah was keen to join his national team-mates having missed last month’s fixtures and wanted to make his mark on the next round of African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
A statement on the EFA’s Twitter account read: ‘The medical staff of our national team, under the leadership of Dr Mohamed Abul-Ela, confirmed the lack of readiness of Mohamed Salah to play the matches against Kenya and Comoros after intensive tests.’
The statement said the injury needed ‘a period of treatment to recover’.
‘The player had come to the camp this morning (Tuesday) after arriving in Cairo late yesterday evening and watched the evening training that the team played at the Burj Al Arab Stadium.’
Salah, who had a scan this week, had an ice pack on his ankle at the end of Sunday’s game
Andy Robertson is also a doubt for the game against Crystal Palace with an ankle knock
The latest news compiles fitness fears of integral first team players, with left back Andy Robertson pulling out of the Scotland squad with an ankle injury himself.
The 25-year-old was seen leaving Anfield on Sunday with a heavily swollen ankle but insisted on reporting to the national team. The Scottish captain has since pulled out of the squad for games against Cyprus and Kazakhstan.
Both men, who linked up well to score Liverpool’s second of three goals last weekend, are doubtful for the trip to Selhurst Park a week on Saturday, as Jurgen Klopp looks to extend his side’s unbeaten start to the season.
Liverpool lead the Premier League table by eight points ahead of Leicester City, managed by former boss Brendan Rodgers.