By Sherif Maher BBC Sport

Hossam Hassan is still being considered for the Egyptian national side

Veteran striker Hossam Hassan could play for Egypt again, according to the Pharaohs' assistant coach Shawky Ghareeb.

The 39-year-old vowed never to represent Egypt again after he was called up but not used by former coach Marco Tardelli in June last year.

At the time, Hassan explained he did not want a running dispute with Tardelli, who was replaced as coach by Hassan Shehata a year ago.

"Hossam is a very gifted player and has given a lot to both his team and his country and I can't see why we can't get him back [in the team] as a way of rewarding him," Ghareeb told BBC Sport.

Ghareeb insisted that Hassan's age was not a factor.

"When we consider people for the team we don't think about their age, but about their ability as players and whether they can do the job for the side."

Hassan's last game for the Pharaohs was a friendly against Gabon last year, in which he came on as a substitute to score both goals in a 2-0 victory.

Meanwhile, Shehata has been told that his job is not under threat.

"Shehata will stay with the team until the end of the African Cup of Nations, which we are hosting next year," the Egyptian Football Association president, Samir Zaher, said.

"There is no intention at all of getting Mahmoud El Gohary or anybody else to coach the team at the next championship."