Liverpool have been handed a huge boost in the race for the Premier League title with Mohamed Salah set for a break from international football next month.
Salah, the forward, was due to link up with the Egypt squad in March for two fixtures, the first against Niger in an AFCON qualifier before facing Nigeria in a friendly four days later.
These matches would be towards the end of the month, with the English title race – which is already intense – further hotting up.
There is always the risk of injury when playing international football, while fatigue can also set in with two games played far apart in distance but close together in date over the break.
However, Liverpool will have no worries over Salah next month, with the 26-year-old set to sit out the March international break as Javier Aguirre, the Egypt head coach, hopes to test new players on the international scene.
Salah’s absence was confirmed by Egyptian Football Association vice-president Ahmed Shobier to KingFut.
“Mohamed Salah will not play the Niger game in the AFCON qualifiers or the Nigeria friendly,” Shobier said.
“Ahmed Hegazi will probably also be left out of the squad.”
Hegazi’s absence is a boost for West Brom as well, with the centre-back a key player for the Championship promotion-chasers.
Liverpool play against Everton, Burnley, Fulham and Tottenham in March’s Premier League action, while they also visit Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash on the 13th of the month.