Liverpool Football Club and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah’s shoulder injury will keep him out of action for three to four weeks, meaning the attacker may miss Egypt’s World Cup matches should they fail to progress beyond the group stage.

According to Liverpool’s physiotherapist, Ruben Pons, the 25-year-old Salah is desperate to play for Egypt in  their third World Cup and their first in 28 years.

“He is sad about what happened but is totally focused on recovery, seeing when he can be ready,” Pons told Spanish sports newspaper, Marca.

“In principle it will be between three and four weeks but we will try to reduce those dates, that’s the big goal,” he added.

Salah was injured after he got entangled in an arms lock with Spain’s Sergio Ramos in Liverpool’s 1-3 UEFA Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid.

Egypt, who reached the tournament after Salah scored a 95th minute penalty to help them beat Congo 2-1 in October begin their campaign in the World Cup Group A against Uruguay on June 15, before facing hosts Russia on June 19 and Saudi Arabia on June 25.

This means if the Egyptian striker takes four weeks to recover, he could be fit in time for the knock-out phases.

Salah, who scored 44 goals in a sensational first season for Liverpool after joining from AS Roma, was voted Player of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association this month.