Egypt expect Mohamed Salah to be fit for Australia World Cup clash

Egypt remain optimistic that captain Mohamed Salah will overcome a hamstring strain in time for Friday’s historic World Cup last-32 tie against Australia in Dallas.

The 34-year-old sustained the injury and was substituted in the 57th minute during a 1-1 draw with Iran that secured his nation’s first-ever progression to the knockout stages.

Scans confirmed a hamstring issue, but the former Liverpool forward returned to training on Tuesday to undergo an intensive rehabilitation programme.

Head coach Hossam Hassan has downplayed concerns over his talisman, who has already registered one goal and two assists at the tournament.

Marmoush ready to step up

Should the veteran winger fail to recover, attacking responsibilities will likely fall to Omar Marmoush.

The Manchester City forward was surprisingly omitted from the starting line-up against Iran and introduced only as a second-half substitute.

Sources close to the national camp indicate the 27-year-old was deeply frustrated by the omission but is fiercely determined to reclaim his place.

Friday’s knockout fixture provides a perfect platform for the attacker to change the narrative after an underwhelming tournament so far.

Defensive crisis deepens for Pharaohs

Beyond their captain’s fitness, the North African side are facing a severe defensive selection headache ahead of their Dallas showdown.

Centre-back Mohamed Abdelmonem is a major doubt after being forced off after just 14 minutes against Iran with a knee problem.

Left-back Ahmed Fatouh is entirely expected to miss the crucial tie having sustained a hamstring issue while playing through the pain barrier because all five substitutes were already used.

With Hamdi Fathi and Hossam Abdelmaguid also nursing fitness issues, Hassan faces difficult decisions against a physically imposing Socceroos outfit.