Ajax Amsterdam's newly-signed striker Mido is hoping to feature in his side's opening European Champions League group-stage clash against Spanish giants Real Madrid. Mido joined his former club Ajax on a season-long loan from English second-division side Middlesbrough in an attempt to resurrect his career in Europe after disappointing spells at Wigan Athletic and West Ham United. He is facing a race against time to be fully fit for Ajax's anticipated clash against Real at Santiago Bernabeu. The Dutch side have qualified for the group phase of Europe's premier club competition for the first time since 2005-2006. "I need to train with Ajax for a week to be able to play in the Real game," Mido said in a television interview in the early hours of Friday. "It would be good for me if I managed to play in that game, even as a second-half substitute. "It would be a good start for my Ajax spell," Mido, who is waiting for the work permit to fly to Amsterdam, added. Mido will experience Champions League football for the third time in his career, having played in the group phase of the elite competition with French club Marseille and Italian side AS Roma. He scored against Real in a 2003 Champions League game whilst at Marseille.
Mido has Egypt hope The much-traveled frontman will vie with Uruguay World Cup striker Luis Suarez and Moroccan Mounir El Hamdaoui for a regular place in Ajax's starting line up. Ajax will also face Italian side AC Milan and French club Auxerre in Group G. Egypt hope Mido remains hopeful that Egypt coach Hassan Shehata will recall him for the Pharaohs' squad. The 27-year-old said earlier this year that he was unlikely to play under the guidance of Shehata again. He also said that the highly-respected tactician, whom he had an infamous touchline row with during the 2006 Nations Cup semi-final against Senegal, dislikes him. "I'm eager to return to the Egyptian national team," Mido, who made his Egypt debut aged 17 in January 2001, added. "I'm sure that the technical staff will call me up to Egypt's squad if I perform well with Ajax." Mido, who missed the 2008 and 2010 Nations Cups, scored 19 goals in 51 appearances with Egypt.
