Egypt manager Hossam Hassan is convinced that Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool after international duty. He has also brushed aside any suggestion of a “crisis” surrounding the superstar. This comes as the forward has linked up with his compatriots ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations quest.

Just weeks earlier, Salah delivered a shock interview to journalists where he suggested the club had left him high and dry, following his omission from three consecutive matches. Questions also lingered over whether he would feature for Liverpool again post-AFCON, with Arne Slot offering no clarity on the matter. Speaking to the media after Salah joined the Egypt camp, Hassan shared his perspective on the situation.

He said: “Whenever Salah’s performances dip with his club, he regains his strength with the national team and becomes even better, whether by contributing goals or scoring himself. Then he returns to his club even stronger.

“Salah’s morale in training is very high, as if he were just starting out with the national team, and I believe he will have a great tournament with his country. I feel his motivation is very, very strong.

“Salah is an icon and will remain so. He is one of the best players in the world, and I support him in everything he does. I don’t consider what happened to him to be a crisis. These things often happen between players and coaches.

“We’ve been in contact with him by phone from the beginning, and I met with him when he joined the national team camp. His focus is entirely on the tournament.”

The suggestion that Salah returns stronger following spells with his national side could prove a telling forecast that he might replicate this form when he rejoins Liverpool after international commitments.

He begins his AFCON campaign with Egypt on Monday evening against Zimbabwe, though it remains unclear if he’ll feature in the starting XI from the outset.

The 33-year-old may sense he has a point to prove in the competition, having previously come tantalisingly close to claiming the coveted trophy.

His drive could be amplified following Jamie Carragher’s harsh critique of the Liverpool star on Sky Sports after his interview.

Carragher said: “One thing I just want to sort of remind Mo Salah and maybe his agent is that before he came to Liverpool, Mo Salah was known as the guy who failed at Chelsea.

“That’s just a fact. He’d never won a major trophy before he came to Liverpool. He’s also the greatest player his country have ever had.

“Egypt, in the Africa Cup of Nations, are the most successful nation. He’s going there in a couple of weeks. Mo Salah’s never won the AFCON.

“That is not me trying to put Mo Salah down as a player. I’ve just said he’s one of the best players in the world in the last eight years, very few better. But what it tells Mo Salah and his agent is, it’s not about an individual.

“You weren’t a big star before you came to Liverpool. You haven’t really won anything with Egypt. All that’s telling you is, no matter how good a player you are, you need help from your team-mates, your manager and fans.”