Liverpool have confirmed that Sadio Mane is facing a six-week injury lay-off.
A club statement confirmed that the winger picked up a hamstring problem while on duty with Senegal during their World Cup qualifier with the Cape Verde Islands.
Mane was substituted in the 89th minute of his country’s 2-0 win and is expected to rule him out of action with the Reds potentially until the end of 2017.
“The winger was substituted 89 minutes into Senegal’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over the Cape Verde Islands on Saturday,” a club statement read.
“And it has now been confirmed that he picked up an injury during that fixture that could keep him out of action for up to six weeks.”
The former Southampton attacker suffered a season-ending ankle injury in April from which he managed to recover in time for Liverpool’s pre-season campaign.
But Mane, who was named in the Ballon d’Or’s 30-man shortlist for 2017, has become the latest injury casualty for Jurgen Klopp’s side during a difficult start.
Adam Lallana is continuing his rehabilitation from a thigh injury in Qatar while Nathaniel Clyne is unlikely to be available until January due to a back problem.