World Cup 2018: Mohamed Salah 'probable' to play Egypt's next game against Russia

Liverpool's FWA Footballer of the Year was an unused substitute as Jose Maria Gimenez headed Uruguay to a late win over the Pharoahs

It is "probable" Mohamed Salah will play against Russia after Egypt's star man wasn't risked for their World Cup opener against Uruguay.

Despite coach Hector Cuper declaring beforehand that Salah would "100 percent" play a part in the Group A match in Ekaterinburg, the FWA Footballer of the Year was instead an unused substitute as Jose Maria Gimenez headed in a late winner.

Salah, who turned 26 on Friday, had been racing against time to recover from the shoulder injury suffered in the Champions League final last month, when he went off early as Liverpool fell to Real Madrid.

Cuper said that doubts over Salah's participation crept back in after Thursday's training session at the match venue on the eve of Egypt's first game at the finals since 1990.

"Yesterday we were certain he was alright," he explained. "At the end of the training session we examined him and there was some doubt if he fell or was hit by another player, he might get hurt again and we wanted to avoid a risk today."

Asked whether Salah might play in Egypt's next game against hosts Russia in St Petersburg on Tuesday, Cuper added: "Let's first try to talk about the Uruguay match. Tomorrow we can start thinking about Russia. If we look at their opening match, they scored some important goals.

"As for Salah, it is probable that he will play. He didn't play because we wanted to avoid risks. He will be fine for the next match."

Without the pace of their best player Egypt struggled in attack and were punished late on as their winless World Cup finals record continued.

Salah was forced to sit the match in Ekaterinburg out (Getty)

"Salah is an important player but we need to have a good team. If he had been on the pitch the result might have been different," Cuper added. "I think we had what we had and tried to do our best,” he added of a Salah-less attack.

"We do have good forwards to do a good job. We didn't finish well but did go on the offensive today. I'm happy with the team's efforts. I might have got the strategy wrong. It is a shame we lost after a set piece. The players have given their best and I have no complaints."