Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has insisted the decision for Mo Salah to return from the Africa Cup of Nations was made with the player’s best interests at heart as he targets a rapid return from a hamstring injury.
Salah suffered a muscle injury in Egypt’s draw with Ghana last week, with the forward returning to Liverpool to commence an “intensive rehabilitation programme” after the club reached an agreement with the Egyptian football association.
A Liverpool statement confirmed Salah’s injury is “worse than first feared” and vowed to get him “back in action as soon as possible for club and country, giving him the best chance to return to compete at AFCON” if Egypt progress reach the latter stages of the tournament.
The AFCON final is due to he held on February 11, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp remarking recently that Salah will “probably” return to international duty if he recovers in time to represent Egypt if Rui Vitoria’s side reach the final.
The decision to allow Salah to return to Liverpool has been criticised, with some arguing the national captain should remain in Egypt’s camp to support his team-mates.
