The same pitch problem that Egypt went out of its way to shield Salah from is now his own club’s to solve. On the eve of their Conference League opener against KuPS, Trabzonspor’s German manager would not say whether the 34-year-old Egyptian would start on the artificial pitch at Tammelan Stadion in Tampere.

“I cannot confirm at the moment whether Salah will play or not. We will see tomorrow,” Reis told reporters.

He placed the surface at the centre of his thinking.

“The match will be played on an artificial pitch, but all our players are ready,” he said. “We have to deal with the opponent and the conditions of the pitch as well. Even Bayern Munich had major difficulties on a similar surface yesterday.”

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The AFCON precedent in Juba

Salah’s reluctance to play on artificial grass is on the record. Egypt left him out of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to South Sudan on 29 September, with the national team’s technical staff citing the artificial pitch at Juba Stadium as the reason to rest him. The decision, taken under head coach Hossam Hassan, was agreed with the player before the preceding Angola fixture.

That protection does not travel into club football. KuPS, who normally play in Kuopio, moved the Trabzonspor game to Tampere’s Tammelan Stadion, an artificial-surface venue, for the Conference League league phase opener. Kick-off is at 8:45pm local time.

A €0 signing with an open-ended problem

Salah’s name has become the story only because of who he is. The forward joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer on 6 August 2026 after nine seasons at Liverpool, signing a two-year contract. He had left Anfield as the club’s third-highest goalscorer with 257 goals in 442 games.

The Egyptian has settled quickly in the Süper Lig, with seven goals and three assists in his first seven league matches for Trabzonspor. Thursday is set to be his first Conference League appearance for the club, who dropped into Europe’s third-tier competition after a 5-0 aggregate defeat to Ferencváros in Europa League qualifying.

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Reis gave himself cover with a final line.

“I will choose the best possible line-up for the match. That is what I can disclose.”

Salah travelled with the squad to Finland. The team sheet is due roughly an hour before kick-off at Tammelan Stadion.

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