Sadio Mane has sustained an injury to his fibula and will miss Bayern Munich 's game with Schalke this weekend, the club have announced.
The forward was forced off after 20 minutes in his side's win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday night which cast major doubt over his World Cup hopes. Senegal will head to Qatar as Africa's champions and begin their tournament in less than a fortnight with a game against the Netherlands.
It leaves Mane, who is his country's leading superstar, with little time to recover before the World Cup kicks-off. Bayern have confirmed the 30-year-old will undergo further examinations as they remain in dialogue with Senegal and their medical department ahead of the tournament.
A club statement read: "Sadio Mané suffered an injury to his right fibula head at #FCBSVW. He is out for the game against Schalke. Further examinations will follow in the next few days, FC Bayern will be in contact with the medical side of the Senegalese Football Association."
Senegal's first game is on November 21 before they take on the hosts Qatar on November 25. They then round out their group campaign against Ecuador four days later.
Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann said after Mane sustained the injury: "It's always uncomfortable. He has to have an X-ray. I hope nothing is wrong. I didn’t see him after the game, I hope it’s not a big injury. But I don’t know at the moment." His assistant, Dino Toppmoller, was more upbeat however, stating: "He got hit in the leg, which caused a little nerve pain. Nothing too serious. His participation in the World Cup shouldn't be in jeopardy."
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Mane will be hoping he isn't the latest big name to miss out on the World Cup. Its mid-season slot has copped major criticism with England star Reece James confirming he will miss the tournament in Qatar as his team-mate Ben Chilwell also looks set to fall foul of an injury. France duo Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante are also going to be absent for their country's defence of the World Cup.
Jamie Carragher is among many who have lamented the World Cup's scheduling as well as the controversy surrounding it. He ranted on CBS Sports : "Players all around Europe and the world could get injured... a ten day injury is going to keep players out of the World Cup, which should not be happening, and it all started with FIFA giving them the World Cup in the first place.
"Then they're moving it and obviously, the stuff that goes on in their countries are a completely different issue as well. But I think it's absolutely disgusting."
