Mohamed Salah is back in training and Egypt are growing more confident he can play in Friday's last-32 meeting with Australia. The captain's hamstring strain has turned Australia vs Egypt into a late fitness call, but the signs around camp are positive rather than alarming. Egypt still need their best player available if they are going to keep moving at this tournament.
Salah's recovery and Egypt's attack
BBC Sport sources inside the Egypt camp say Salah is winning his race to overcome the injury. Hossam Hassan has also downplayed the concern, while Salah is undergoing an intensive rehabilitation programme and individual recovery sessions.
The scale of the loss is obvious. Salah was forced off in the 57th minute against Iran after scans later confirmed a hamstring strain. Since then, he has still managed to score in Egypt's 3-1 win over New Zealand and has provided two assists at the finals.
That output is the reason Egypt are waiting on him so carefully. He has played three World Cup matches this tournament, with one goal and two assists, and his 7.23 average rating underlines how central he has been when fit.
Egypt's wider problems
There is still a broader fitness issue in the squad. Mohamed Abdelmonem was forced off after only 14 minutes with a knee problem, while Omar Marmoush remains another attacking option Egypt will want available for the knockout round.
Egypt finished second in Group G with five points, a goal difference of +2 and a record of one win and two draws. That has left them with a real chance to keep progressing, but the immediate focus is still Salah. If he is cleared, Egypt get their best creator and finisher back for a game that is set for Friday in Dallas.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →