World Cup 2018: Coach admits Egypt have to plan not to have Mohamed Salah available in Russia
Star man Salah is recovering from the shoulder ligament injury suffered in last month's Champions League final loss to Real Madrid
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Your support makes all the difference.Despite more positive news around his injury Egypt coach Hector Cuper has admitted he is planning for life without Mohamed Salah just in case his star man isn't fit to start in Russia.
Liverpool's Salah is recovering from the shoulder ligament injury suffered in last month's Champions League final loss to Real Madrid when he went off early in the game.
"We hope we won't be affected, we try to be the same team, we can't be dependent on one player," coach Cuper admitted.
"He's important but if he's not fit in time we will be ready with another player.
"This is football, these things can happen to any player. We could need to substitute him, but we hope that won't be the case."
Salah was included in Egypt's final 23-man squad, with the team's medical staff suggesting it will be touch and go for the player to be ready in time for their Group A game against Uruguay in Ekaterinburg on June 15.
"Salah is in a stage of recovery not just for treatment on his shoulder," Cuper added. "We need to improve his demeanour and his fitness level because the injury has prevented him from training as a normal player.
"But we have very good news from our doctor, we hope he will be with us before Uruguay. We are optimists and we are waiting for him."
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