The Senegalese Football Federation have confirmed Sadio Mane has returned to Liverpool after tweaking his hamstring on international duty.
Mane featured in Senegal’s 2-0 win over South Africa on Friday but has been relinquished from the squad after Senegal secured qualification to the 2018 World Cup.
The 25-year-old had only just returned to first-team action after a four-week absence with a hamstring injury, but Mane has complained from pain in the same area and will now be assessed further by Liverpool’s medical team.
“Following the match between South Africa and Senegal on Friday, Sadio Mane slight felt his old injury,” the Senegal Football Federation said in a statement, via The Daily Telegraph.
“After consultations between the medical staff of the national team of Senegal and Liverpool, it was decided by mutual agreement to make him available to his club to continue treatment until full recovery.”
Mane returned ahead of schedule to play 77 minutes of Liverpool’s 4-1 win away to West Ham at the start of November, but he remains a huge doubt for Saturday’s clash against Southampton at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp will be sweating on Mane’s fitness as his absence usually impacts Liverpool’s performance.
Since the start of last season, Liverpool have a significantly better win ratio in the Premier League with Mane in the starting XI (62.5%) compared to when he has not been available to start (41.2%).
