Liverpool star Mohamed Salah could miss the Reds' next six matches after it emerged his injury is worse than first thought.
His agent has confirmed he could be out for up to a month with a hamstring problem.
Salah picked up the injury during Egypt's second match at the Africa Cup of Nations against Ghana.
He was substituted during the 2-2 draw and was quickly ruled out of the last group match against Cape Verde, which takes place tonight (Monday).
Mohamed Salah is set for up to a month out with a hamstring injury
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Salah was also set to miss the first knockout match if Egypt made it that far in the tournament.
But it has now been confirmed he will be out for a longer period.
Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, provided an update on the 31-year-old's fitness on social media.
He wrote on X: "Mohamed's injury is more serious than first thought and he will be out for 21-28 days, and not two games.
"His best chance at participating in the current AFCON is by undergoing intensive rehabilitation in the UK and rejoining the team as soon as he is fit."
Salah has already missed Liverpool's last three matches due to being on international duty.
The Reds have won each game, the latest a 4-0 victory at Bournemouth on Sunday.
Salah was in line to miss another five games if Egypt made it to the final on February 11.
But they drew their first two matches of the tournament to put a dent in their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
Egypt will likely need to beat Cape Verde to secure a spot in the next round.
But even if they are knocked out, Liverpool are still set to be without Salah for the immediate future.
He will miss the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Fulham on Wednesday and FA Cup fourth-round tie against Norwich on Saturday.
The star forward now looks certain to miss the visit of Chelsea on January 31 and trip to title rivals Arsenal on February 4.
He could also be unavailable for the home match against Burnley and the away game at Brentford in February.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Sunday that Salah was set to return to Merseyside for treatment.
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Mohamed Salah's injury is worse than first thought
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He said: "That’s the plan. If that’s already decided 100 per cent I don’t know, but that’s the plan.
"However long he is out, I think probably everybody sees that it makes sense that he is doing the rehab with us or with our people.
"That’s the plan, but if that’s now written in stone already, I don’t know.
"[I spoke with him] directly after [the game], pretty much the night it happened.
Mohamed Salah is set to return to the UK for treatment
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"Since then, he’s in contact with our doctor.
"The doc tells me the news, so I think he will be back."
