Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has defended the club's handling of Mohamed Salah.

The Egypt star is set to face his former club tomorrow as Chelsea travel to Liverpool.

“The key thing with Salah first time round at Chelsea was that he was a year or two younger and still learning the game," Nevin told the Daily Express.

“In front of him at Chelsea in his position were players like Eden Hazard, Willian, Oscar, Victor Moses and Andre Schurrle. These were world-class players and, to be honest, he was not playing at anywhere near that level at the time.

“The argument is, should Chelsea have hung on to Salah and given him more time? But you don't know how long it is going to take with a player.

“There were other players – Kevin De Bruyne being the obvious example – who were in the same position. They were not going to get past the established stars."