Mo Salah should be fit to play for Egypt at World Cup

Mo Salah should be fit to play some part for Egypt in next month's World Cup, it was announced on Wednesday.

The Liverpool forward, who was the Premier League's top goalscorer last season, suffered a shoulder injury in the 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid on Saturday, which looked like stopping him from featuring in Russia.

However, news came out of the Egyptian training camp that they expect him to to be out for three weeks, so while an appearance in their opening Group A clash with Uruguay on June 15 may look an outside bet, he could feature against hosts Russia four days later and against Saudi Arabia in their final group clash on June 25.

A tweet from the Egyptian FA said: "After the meeting of Abu Rida and the doctor of the national team in Spain today, the Football Association reaffirms Salah in the World Cup, God willing, will not exceed the absence of three weeks."

Egypt are a general 15-2 to win the section with Uruguay rated 5-6 favourites. The north Africans are 7-4 to reach the knockout stage, while Salah is 50-1 with Betway to be the tournament's top goalscorer.

Argentina's Lionel Messi is the 9-1 favourite in that market and his backers will have been boosted by the Barcelona star netting a hat-trick in his country's 4-0 win over Haiti.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was also on target for Jorge Sampaoli's side, who are 10-1 with Paddy Power to win their third World Cup.

England's Group G opponents Panama were held to a goalless draw by Northern Ireland, while Peru saw off a youthful Scotland 2-0.

Japan, who will face Poland, Senegal and Colombia, fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to non-qualifiers Ghana.

Saudi Arabian referee Fahad Al-Mirdasi has been banned from the tournament for match fixing and will not be replaced.

Championship side Aston Villa, who lost in Saturday's playoff final against Fulham, have announced that former Chelsea captain John Terry has left the club.

His former Stamford Bridge team-mate Frank Lampard remains poised to take the managerial vacancy at Derby after Gary Rowett left Pride Park to replace Paul Lambert at relegated Stoke.

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