Mohamed Salah‘s exceptional season is set to come to an agonising end after hosts Russia all but extinguished Egypt’s World Cup hopes.

A dream first season at Liverpool helped establish the 26-year-old as one of the star names at these finals, with expectations heightened as his country strutted out on the global stage for the first time since 1990.

But the shoulder injury sustained in the Reds’ Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid derailed preparations, meaning Salah was reduced to a watching brief as Group A started with a late defeat to Uruguay.

That loss was compounded emphatically as the forward started in St Petersburg, where his penalty was only a consolation as Egypt lost 3-1 to Russia.

“I think that nobody can deny or argue Mo Salah’s importance in the Egypt national team,” Egypt head coach Hector Cuper said after a loss that leaves them facing a group-stage exit.

“What would have happened if he’d been on top form in both matches? Well, that’s very hard to say now.

“But I think that he would have given us all his quality and his ability.

“Mo Salah was feeling good to play today.

“You’ve seen him on the pitch, he was in good shape and nobody can argue that he isn’t extremely important to the team.

“But I always say behind a player or two brilliant players, there has to be a team and I feel proud because I’ve had a team.

“Perhaps we weren’t decisive enough, perhaps we lacked that little extra thing to get there, but I must recognise the great effort that they have done after 28 years where Egypt had not taken part in a World Cup.”

Egypt will be knocked out if Uruguay avoid defeat against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, with their seemingly imminent exit leading Cuper to come under immediate pressure.

“First of all, whether or should I say in my post or not is something that does not only depend on me,” the Argentinian said after Ahmed Fathi’s own goal was compounded by Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba efforts.

“If those responsible are not happy with what I have done then I will be the first to leave. There’s no doubt about that.

“But we still have another match to play.

“It is difficult to say this but in the World Cup you have to wait until the very last minute, although it’s true that our chances are minimal.”