Zamalek wizard Shikabala has been excluded from Egypt's squad for Wednesday's friendly game against Australia due to a back injury. The 24-year-old hurt his back during Zamalek's 3-2 Egyptian Premier League victory over Ismaili last Wednesday. Earlier on Friday, Zamalek coach Hossam Hassan asked Egypt manager Hassan Shehata not to field Shikabala against Australia in order to avoid aggravating the talented forward's injury. "Shikabala did not join Egypt's training camp," the team's assistant coach Hamada Sedki told FilGoal.com. "He was not examined by the team's doctors to make sure he was injured but we received a report from Zamalek's medical staff and decided to give him the chance to recover whilst not on international duty. "We will not call up a replacement for him. We have a sufficient number of players for the Australia game." Shikabala produced a superb display against Ismaili to prompt Shehata to recall him to Egypt's squad for the first time since he made one appearance in the Pharaohs' triumphant African Cup of Nations Campaign last January. He brought Zamalek level with a fine individual effort after Ismaili secured a 20th-minute lead before sending in the cross which defender Moatasem Salem converted into his own net in the second half to give the White Knights a precious win. The former PAOK man, who has taken his tally to five league goals so far this season, was accused by Shehata few months ago of feigning injury to skip Egypt's opening 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone. The highly-successful coach also criticized Shikabala for 'being too passive when losing the ball'. Seven-time African champions Egypt face Australia in their first game after suffering a stunning 1-0 defeat at tiny Niger in the Nations Cup qualifiers.
