'Fighter' Mohamed Salah Confident of Playing World Cup

Egypt and Liverpool’s inspirational forward Mohamed Salah is confident of playing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in June even though he was forced off with shoulder injury after a clash with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos in the final of the UEFA Champions League in Kyiv on Saturday night.

Salah, who scored 44 goals in the season in all competitions for Liverpool says he is confident that he will represent Egypt at the showpiece event in Russia next month. Reports though have suggested that the left footed magician is likely to miss his country’s first game of the tournament against Uruguay. Egypt are in Group A with Uruguay, hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia for company.

The Egyptian captain, in a post on Instagram wrote, “It was a very tough night, but I'm a fighter. Despite the odds, I'm confident that I'll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need.”

The former AS Roma and Chelsea man left the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv with his arm in a sling, after which the Egypt FA said they were "optimistic" he would be fit for the tournament.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had expressed greater concern though when he said it was a "really serious injury."

This year, Salah has emerged as a top contender to rival the duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or and other player of the year awards with his 44 goals in all competitions.

He is by far the biggest football star in Egypt and their hopes and fortunes in Russia depend on the man himself. Egypt last played in the World Cup in 1990.