MO THE MERRIER

Salah winning fitness battle

MO SALAH is back in training... and showing no sign he has given up on Egypt’s World Cup opener against Uruguay.

While his nation holds its breath, Salah, who suffered a shoulder injury in Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions

League final almost three weeks ago, returned to training yesterday at the Akhmat-arena in

Grozny.

And although the

25-year-old Kop star didn’t get involved in physical challenges, he took an important step in his bid to figure in

Egypt’s first match in the Ekaterinburg Arena tomorrow.

Egypt coach Hector Cuper, who made sure Salah had a gentle workout (above) rather than a fullblooded session, is desperate to get the mercurial star fit enough to play some part against Uruguay.

But Cuper won’t risk last season’s Premier League top scorer unless he’s fully fit and is more focused on making certain the forward is cherry ripe for the remaining two Group A games against Russia in St Petersburg next Tuesday and Saudi Arabia in Volgograd.

Cuper, who believes Uruguay are hot favourites to top the group, reckons second place is up for grabs and may therefore save Salah, who scored 44 goals for Liverpool last term, for more winnable battles against the host nation Russia and outsiders Saudi Arabia.

Egyptian FA managing director Ehab Lehita gave an upbeat bulletin on Salah, who went off in tears during the first half against Real Madrid in Kiev, earlier in the week.

“He is gradually getting better,” he said. “I cannot confirm today that he will play in the first match. All I can say is that I hope he will.”