Mohamed Salah will miss two games for Egypt at AFCON as tests confirm the Liverpool forward suffered a back strain as fears over long-term layoff are cooled

The Egypt and Liverpool star will miss two matches at the Africa Cup of NationsMohamed Salah underwent medical test that confirmed he has a back strainIvan Toney is ambitious and wants to win titles... you can't begrudge him that! It's All Kicking Off

Mohamed Salah will miss two games for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations after tests revealed the extent of the Liverpool star’s latest injury.

The 31-year-old was previously withdrawn during Egypt’s Group B clash against Ghana with a suspected hamstring issue and there were fears of a long-term layoff.

However, concerns from both Egypt and Liverpool supporters have now been quelled after Salah’s national team provided an update on his condition.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp suggested on Friday that he was waiting for an update on his star player’s fitness and revealed he was ‘shocked’ to see Salah get injured.

The Reds star will miss Egypt’s final group match against Cape Verde and then a round of 16 knockout provided they qualify for the next round.

Mohamed Salah will miss two games for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations after tests revealed the extent of the Liverpool star’s latest injury

Salah was forced off during Egypt’s Group B clash against Ghana with a suspected hamstring issue

Providing an update on Salah’s condition, the Egyptian side’s official statement read: ‘Mohamed Salah suffered a strain in his back muscle and will miss two matches in the African Nations

‘The tests that Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team, underwent, showed that he suffered a strain in the posterior muscle, and he will miss the team’s next two matches in the African Nations against Cape Verde, and then the round of 16 match in the event of qualification.’

The news will come as relief to Liverpool supporters who feared Salah could be set for a long spell on the sidelines amid their Premier League title chase.

Salah has been vital to Liverpool’s success in recent seasons and has scored 18 goals in all competitions for the Reds so far this campaign.

It was initially feared that Salah had suffered a hamstring injury before tests confirmed that he was instead suffering with a back complaint that will now require treatment.

There was concern that Salah was set for a significant spell on the sidelines

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp previously revealed he was waiting for updates on Salah’s condition

The most usual course of rehabilitation for a back injury is rest and heat treatment, with Salah ruled out for upcoming games to be back fit for the latter stages of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Liverpool will be hoping to keep their place at the top of the Premier League table when they travel to Bournemouth on Sunday.

Klopp previously feared the worst for Salah’s injury, stating: ‘We don’t know anything. I spoke with him last night. They are doing further assessments.

‘In the moment it was a shock. He felt it and we know how rarely Mo goes off so there was something.’