Liverpool signing Mohamed Salah's debut delayed due to work permit issue

The Egyptian winger is not eligible to play against Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday

Mohamed Salah will have to wait before making his non-competitive debut for Liverpool (Getty)

Mohamed Salah will be unavailable to play in Liverpool’s friendly against Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday as he is awaiting work permit clearance.

The Egypt international completed a €39m (£34.3m) transfer from Roma last month and began training with the rest of Jürgen Klopp’s squad on Saturday.

Salah is not, however, eligible to play at Prenton Park as standard immigration procedure requires him to leave the country and then return before receiving clearance to play.

Klopp told Liverpool’s official website: “Mo Salah is here in training but cannot play because of the rules, so that’s what we have to accept.

“We will try to get the working permission or the visa, I’m not sure what it is we need to get but we have to go to Paris and leave him there for a day or two and then he’ll come back.

“We are hopeful he can play soon,” Klopp added.

All players who do not hold EU/EEA citizenship are required to obtain a work permit before they can be lawfully employed as a professional footballer in the United Kingdom.

In order to obtain a work permit, clubs must demonstrate that a player is both internationally established and will make a significant contribution.

Salah has won 53 international caps for Egypt since 2011, scoring 29 goals for his home country.