Mohamed Salah gifted 100kg cake, decorated with golden boot, to celebrate 26th birthday

EGYPT and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was gifted a giant 100kg cake to celebrate his 26^th birthday – complete with a golden boot decoration.

The birthday boy missed the opening game of his nation’s World Cup campaign with the shoulder injury he suffered in the Champion League final.

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And he is in race against time to get fit after his side lost to a last-gasp Uruguay header.

Even if his shoulder is not 100 per cent, his morale should be sky high after the generous gesture at his side’s base in Grozny in Chechnya.

The Anfield hero Salah smiled and hugged his team-mates as they sang ‘Happy Birthday’ in English and Arabic before blowing out the candles and heading to his room to continue his recovery.

Egypt coach Hector Cuper is confident the former Chelsea man could make a surprise appearance in the two remaining group games, with Russia up next.

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After the Uruguay loss, he said: “Salah is very important for us, no one can deny that.

“But we have a good team and with Salah playing, things could have gone in different way.

“He certainly will contribute in the next matches.

““If you analyse Russia’s first match, they scored a lot of goals. Always there are options to win.

“Whether Salah will play? He is very likely to play, almost definitely.

“He did not play in this match because there was a risk.”

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Moments before the Uruguay kick-off, Salah - kitted in out full subs attire, bib and all - was tapped on the shoulder by an over-eager mascot.

Visibly frustrated, the Reds forward - edging towards recovery after his blistering 2017-18 season - gestured at his arm and kept walking.

It's not the first time Salah has had to remind a fan of his ailment, either.

Earlier this week, the Reds star winced after a supporter clutched his injured shoulder while posing for a selfie.

The Egypt ace was pounced on as soon as he got off the team bus, with the keen fan taking his phone out to take a snap.

He then proceeded to hug Salah - who was forced to take evasive action to get him off his arm - as security intervened to usher the star away into a nearby facility.