Midfielder Mohamed Shawky could miss Egypt's opening 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Shawky has a back problem and misses the last game of the season for his English Premier League side Middlesbrough against Manchester City.
The African champions begin their Group 12 qualifying at home to the DR Congo on the first weekend in June.
In the following weeks they have games away to Djibouti and then Malawi both home and away.
Shawky was part of the Pharaohs' squad that successfully defended their Africa Cup of Nations title in Ghana in February.
