Mohammed Sallah might not play in 2018 World Cup

Mohamed Salah may be sidelined for two months by the shoulder injury he sustained during Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid which means he might miss Egypt’s World Cup campaign.

Salah was substituted after 30 minutes of Saturday’s showpiece encounter in Kiev, having grappled with Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and landed heavily on the turf.

But Salah on his part is confident of playing for Egypt in the World Cup.

It was a very tough night, but I'm a fighter, he said on Instagram.

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.

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.

A post shared by Mohamed Salah (@mosalah) on May 27, 2018 at 9:34am PDT

In his post-match interviews, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp expressed fears Salah would miss Russia 2018, but the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) tweeted a statement claiming there was “optimism” the Premier League Golden Boot winner would be fit for their Group A opener against Uruguay on June 15 after speaking to Liverpool officials.

This season, Salah has emerged as a top contender to rival Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or and other player of the year awards after scoring 44 goals in all competitions.

He is far and away the biggest star in Egypt and key to the country's hopes in Russia, and the injury may mean he is denied the chance to take part in the nation's first World Cup since 1990.