Ahly's star playmaker Walid Soliman will not need to undergo knee surgery but he will be sidelined for five weeks, according to the club’s doctor, who also said on Tuesday that injured striker Walid Azaro will rejoin trainings after four weeks.

"Walid [Soliman] will not need knee surgery. He has already started a five-week rehabilitation programme," Ahly's doctor Khaled Mahmoud was quoted as saying by the club's official website.

Soliman, 34, left the pitch late in Friday's 1-1 Champions League away draw against Algerian side JS Saoura in the second round of the prestigious African tournament’s group stage.

On Sunday, the Ahly doctor hinted that Soliman may need to go under the knife as medical scans revealed that he is suffering from a minor cartilage injury as well as an interior knee ligament injury.

"Another doctor has agreed with my opinion that surgery is not necessary," the club’s doctor added on Tuesday.

Update on Azaro's injury

Soliman's injury has created more woe for the Reds, who are already missing key players like Marwan Mohsen, Azaro and Ahmed Fathi due to injury.

On 6 January, Ahly announced that Moroccan hitman Azaro would be sidelined for five weeks due to a muscular injury.

Ahly's doctor gave an update on Azaro's situation on Tuesday, saying "Azaro is continuing his rehabilitation programme for a muscular tear. He will rejoin the trainings after four weeks."

After the draw with JS Saoura, Ahly, who reached the Champions League final in the past two years but lost on both occasions, remained at the top of Group D with four points. JS Saoura are third with just one point.

On the domestic level, Ahly currently lie fourth on the Egyptian Premier League table with 27 points from 14 matches, 14 behind leaders and rivals Zamalek, who played two games more.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)