Salah⚡ 100% Fit✅ Start👍 for Egypt

Mohamed Salah is in line to start Egypt’s opening game of World Cup 2018 against Uruguay, with Hector Cuper “100 per cent” confident the Liverpool forward is over a shoulder injury.

With Egypt resting much of their ambition on the shoulders of a talismanic presence who fired them to a first finals in 28 years, they are understandably keen for him to be involved as much as possible.

National team coach Cuper told reporters on the progress being made by his star turn: “Salah is doing very well indeed, he's recovered very quickly. We'll see how it goes today. I can almost assure you 100 per cent he'll play. We’re trying to make him feel confident. The doctors are giving him the option to play or not. I know him very well, and I’m sure he’s not afraid. A risk of playing a match is something we can’t hide. In terms of him on the pitch, he’ll have full guarantees. If we do see at the last minute there’s an issue, we’ll see if it can be resolved.”

*Pickford: 🔈"I'm Better Than DDG⭐ Was At This Stage"

Everton and England star Jordan Pickford considers himself to be a better goalkeeper than David de Gea was at the same stage of his career.

Two men readying themselves for World Cup duty with their respective countries are now established members of the Premier League elite.

“This is only my second season in the Premier League. It took De Gea a while and I don’t think it has taken me that long to get to this level.

He added: “[Manue] Neuer is one I really admire because he plays the role in his own way. You have got to play it your own way but he takes it to the next level the way he plays.

“But when I was younger, it was always [Joe] Hart I looked up to. They’re the ones who have got experience but I am always learning and always wanting to improve