Salah not 100 per cent for Russia game

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (AP):

Mohamed Salah showed signs of discomfort with his injured left shoulder while taking part in Egypt's final training session before the team's World Cup match against hosts Russia this afternoon.

Salah did not appear to be moving his shoulder fully during upper-body exercises yesterday. Moments earlier, Salah took part in light jogging around the St Petersburg Stadium field and ran at the back of the group, with one coach gently nudging his left shoulder as the striker dribbled with a ball.

Salah, the English Premier League's Player of the Season, is recovering from injuring his shoulder while playing for Liverpool in last month's UEFA Champions League final. He was an unused substitute in Egypt's first group game at the World Cup - a 1-0 loss against Uruguay last Friday.

"I hope he will be fit to play," Egypt coach Hector Cuper said before training began. "I'm sure he will be able to play."

Salah has taken part in training the last two days.

"Salah is fit," Cuper said. "In the previous match against Uruguay, we thought he was fit ... . We always carry out a last physical test before we [decide] the lineup."

Cuper made similar comments about Salah before the game against Uruguay, but chose not to either start him or bring him off the bench. Egypt struggled to create much in attack without its star forward.

Playing at their first World Cup since 1990, Egypt would be eliminated after two group games if they lose to Russia and Uruguay beat Saudi Arabia tomorrow.