Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah was the best individual player in the entire Premier League this past season. His being forced out of the 3-1 UEFA Champions League final loss to Real Madrid yesterday was just plain brutal to watch.
It was tragic to see the Egyptian international have his dream breakout season end like that- suffering a serious shoulder injury, and exiting a huge game early. The PFA Player of the Year was literally reduced to tears as he left the pitch. Early speculation posited the idea that Salah was hurt serious enough to put his World Cup availability next month in danger.
Salah says that is not the case though. “It was a very tough night, but I’m a fighter,” he told BT Sport.
“Despite the odds, I’m confident I’ll be in Russia to make you all proud. Your love and support will give me the strength I need.”
Salah certainly faces a race against time in order to be fully fit. As he said, the odds are against him, and the same holds true for his national team. Egypt will make just its third World Cup appearance, and first since 1990, in Russia next month, where they will be considered a tremendous long shot. They open their tournament in group play June 15 against Uruguay.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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