SALAH IS FIGHTING FIT AND EYES BOLD GOLDEN BOOT BID

MOHAMED SALAH has been declared ‘almost 100-per-cent’ fit for Egypt’s opener against Uruguay — and already has eyes on the World Cup’s Golden Boot.

Salah damaged shoulder ligaments in a ruck with Sergio Ramos during Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat 20 days ago and has been unable to play since.

But after a 44-goal club season that saw him finish as the Premier League’s top scorer, Salah is now said to be primed to lead Egypt’s charge in their first World Cup in his lifetime.

The 25-year-old came through training at the Yekaterinburg Arena, the bizarre stadium with temporary stands perched outside the ground’s walls, after manager Hector Cuper had revealed the state of his fitness yesterday.

‘I can almost assure you 100 per cent he will play, save unforeseen circumstances at the very last minute,’ Cuper said of Salah.

‘We’re trying to make him feel confident. The doctors are giving him the options to play or not. I know Salah very well, he’s not fearful. We always know we’re running a risk when playing a match, that’s something we can’t hide.’

Cuper revealed Salah (above) had recovered ‘very, very quickly’ and there will be fears over his true level of fitness after a rushed return, less than three weeks after he left Kiev in a sling.

The Egypt boss is in no doubt over the impact he can have, though. ‘He could become the top goalscorer here and one of the greatest players,’ he added.

Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez is at least convinced he will have a ‘more mature’ Luis Suarez to call upon in this tournament after he earned a ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in 2014.

‘What happened in Brazil is part of real life and of course it’s been a lesson for him to achieve greater maturity not only as a footballer but also in other areas away from the football pitch,’ said Tabarez.