Mahmoud Trezeguet's serious knee injury came as a big blow to the Egyptian national team, coach Hossam El-Badry admitted on Friday. The Aston Villa winger faces at least six months on the sidelines after suffering knee ligament damage in the team's 2-1 defeat by Liverpool in the Premier League last weekend. He is an integral member of Egypt's squad as he usually plays as a left winger, as part of three attacking midfielders deployed behind a lone striker. Pyramids FC winger Ramadan Sobhi is the frontrunner to replace him as Egypt gear up for their World Cup qualifying campaign. "Trezeguet's injury annoyed us … I've been in contact with him following the operation," El-Badry told an Egyptian radio station. "It's a big loss. We will introduce some faces soon, some of whom were not available recently because of injuries or suspensions." Egypt have shifted their attention to the World Cup qualifiers after reaching next year's Nations Cup finals as leaders of their group, with second-placed Comoros joining them in the Cameroon finals. The Pharaohs will play in Group F of the World Cup qualifiers along with Gabon, Libya and Angola. They will open their campaign in June. "I was confident that we would reach the Nations Cup as the group leaders and I'm also confident that we will make it to the World Cup finals," El-Badry added. Egypt will also take part in a new Arab Cup sponsored by world governing body FIFA. It will take place in Qatar in December and is considered a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, which the Arab Gulf country will host next year. "The tournament's regulations are not clear yet," El-Badry said when asked whether he will use Egypt's foreign-based footballers in the Arab Cup. "I and the Egyptian Football Association chief Ahmed Megahed will attend the tournament's draw on 25 April." (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
