After suffering the significant blow of missing out on the World Cup, Sadio Mane is now facing up to four months on the sidelines as he recovers from a leg injury.
The former Liverpool talisman was forced off during Bayern Munich's 6-1 victory over Werder Bremen last Tuesday but there were hopes the attacker could still recover in time to represent his native Senegal in Qatar.
Those dreams were confirmed to be over yesterday evening when a club statement by Bayern revealed Mane had undergone successful surgery but would not be available for selection for his country.
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Virgil van Dijk shared his sadness at no longer being able to go head-to-head against his ex-Liverpool and Southampton team-mate in Group, with the Netherlands and Senegal set to face off on Monday afternoon. Further bad news has now come the way of Mane after an update on his expected return date today emerged.
A latest report by German outlet Sport1 has suggested the 30-year-old is set to be out of action for between three-and-a-half to four months as he begins his rehabilitation process. Indeed, the article states the German giants do not wish to 'risk anything' and manager Julian Nagelsmann is prepared to give his summer signing 'all the time in the world'.
It means Mane is now a doubt for Bayern's Champions League Round of 16 first leg meeting with PSG in February, though could be fit to feature in the reverse fixture on March 8. Since leaving Liverpool for the current Bundesliga league leaders back in June, Mane has scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 23 appearances.
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