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Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
MOHAMED SALAH will miss tonight’s blockbuster Champions League showdown against Barcelona, but the Egyptian superstar — who suffered a concussion on Saturday — is certain to have fully recovered to face the Warriors in the opening 2019 AFCON battle in Cairo on June 21.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp revealed yesterday his leading forward will not be allowed to feature against the Catalan giants at Anfield tonight because of standard medical procedures which deal with the delicate management of cases of concussion in professional football.
The 26-year-old forward, one of the best players in the world in the past two years, suffered a huge blow to the head after colliding with Newcastle goalkeeper, Martin Dubravka, in an English Premiership classic at St James Park that ended with the Reds winning 3-2.
Salah has been unfortunate in the past year as he has suffered injuries which have knocked him out of some key matches for both club and country.
He was forced out of the UEFA Champions League final last May, inside the first 30 minutes, when he dislocated his shoulder after being fouled by Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos and, without his inspiration upfront, Liverpool succumbed to a 1-3 defeat.
The injury also ruled him out of the Pharaohs’ first World Cup finals game, in 28 years, when they fell to a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Uruguay in a Group A tie on June 15, last year, with Jose Gimenez’s powerful header in the 90th minute making the difference.
Salah was an unused substitute in that match and, without him, Egypt appeared to lack the cutting edge they required to overcome the former World Champions, whose main forward, Luis Suarez – set for a return to Anfield tonight with Barcelona – had an off day.
The largest cheer from the Egyptian fans that day came when Salah, who was an unused substitute despite earlier claims by coach Hector Cuper the forward would definitely feature in the match, had his image, sitting on the bench, shown on the stadium’s big screen.
Salah returned for the second game against hosts Russia, but although he scored, the Russians ran out comfortable 3-1 winners of that match.
Klopp told the world yesterday, during his pre-match media conference, that Salah would not feature in today’s match in which Liverpool will be hoping to overturn a 0-3 first leg deficit.
‘‘It’s concussion so he wouldn’t be allowed to play. We cannot do it,’’ the German coach said.
“Two of the world’s best strikers are not available tomorrow night and we have to score four goals. It doesn’t make life easier, but we will try for 90 minutes to celebrate the Champions League campaign to give it a proper finish.”
And the Catalan giants replied to the news with a very classy response in which they said it was regrettable that a match of such a magnitude would miss one of its biggest star attractions.
‘‘Games like these are for world-class players. Get well soon,’’ Barcelona sent their message via Twitter.
Even if Salah, who watched the remaining minutes of Liverpool’s battle against Newcastle from inside the away dressing room, would have wanted to play tonight, the English FA Concussion Guidelines would have made it impossible for him to be fielded in the match.
And, with a period of between six and 21 days provided as the management period in such cases, before a footballer can be allowed to return to play, it’s very likely Salah could be cleared to play for the Pharaohs in their opening 2019 AFCON finals match against the Warriors.
Even if Salah’s management period was extended to 21 days, he would still be given the green light to feature in the opening match of the Nations Cup finals against Zimbabwe. However, as the FA guidelines clearly stipulate, it all depends on individual cases and whether the footballers would pass the tests to be conducted by medical specialists.
‘‘Rest is the cornerstone of concussion treatment. This involves resting the body, ‘physical rest’, and resting the brain, known as ‘cognitive rest’,’’ the FA Concussion Guidelines stipulate.
‘‘The period of rest allows symptoms to recover and in the non-professional setting allows a return to work or study prior to resuming training and playing.
‘‘Rest means avoiding physical activities such as running, cycling, swimming, physical work activities.
‘‘Stage one – 14 days, beginning at midnight on the day of injury, the player must be symptom-free at the end of this period before progressing; Stage Two – minimum duration 24 hours; Stage Three – minimum duration 24 hours; Stage Four – minimum duration 24 hours; Stage Five – minimum duration 24 hours; Stage Six – Day 19, earliest return to play.
‘‘It is recognised that players will often want to return to play as soon as possible following a concussion. Players, coaches, management, parents and teachers must exercise caution to ensure that all symptoms have resolved before commencing GRTP (Gradual Return To Play), ensure that the GRTP protocol is followed, ensure that the advice of medical practitioners and other healthcare professionals is strictly adhered to.
‘‘fter returning to play, all those involved with the player, especially coaches and parents, must remain vigilant for the return of symptoms even if the GRTP has been successfully completed.
‘‘If symptoms recur the player must consult a healthcare practitioner as soon as possible as they may need a referral to a specialist in concussion management.’’
However, the FA also acknowledge that top clubs, like Liverpool, and international teams, like Egypt, can have advanced medical care and this would result in a shorter recovery time for the affected players.
‘‘In some circumstances (such as professional clubs, international teams and academies), there may be an enhanced level of medical care available which allows closer supervision of a player’s care and graduated return to play,’’ the guidelines stipulate.
‘‘In these instances, a shorter time-frame for return to play may be possible, but only under strict supervision by the appropriate medical personnel as part of a structured concussion management programme.
‘‘Acknowledging that more than one area of brain function can be affected by concussion, this will involve formal documented assessment of areas such as cognitive function, emotional well-being, neurological function and any physical trauma sustained.
‘‘The player has to have access to a multi-disciplinary team, including neuropsychology, neurology, neurosurgery specialists and other clinicians as required to supervise the return to play and instigate any treatment or investigation required should the return to play progression not be straightforward.’’
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter