Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 8y

Sadio Mane confirms he's fully fit for Liverpool after knock with Senegal

Sadio Mane has confirmed that has returned from the international break fully fit and is ready for this weekend's game against Leicester City.

ESPN FC reported on Monday that the forward had returned to Liverpool unscathed from international duty after concerns were raised when he was substituted 66 minutes into Senegal's 2-0 win over Namibia.

And Mane says the reasons for his substitution in the African Nations Cup qualifier were not injury-related.

"I'm fit," he told the club's official website. "It's true I got a little kick in the back of the knee, but it was nothing special -- it happened in the first half and I played for the rest of the game.

"I'd spoke with the coach and because we have new players, he wanted to try [them] and change me, so the substitution was not due to injury.

"The most important thing is I am here today at Melwood, I am happy to be fit and will get myself ready for Leicester in the rest of the week."

Mane, who moved to Anfield from Southampton for £30 million this summer, revealed that he spoke to manager Jurgen Klopp to assure him that he had not picked up a knock while away with Senegal.

The 24-year-old added: "I spoke to the coach and told him everything was OK, I am 100 percent fit and there was nothing specific [to report].

"After the game, I went to the airport to take a flight. When I reached Paris the following morning, I had many messages on my phone with people and my family asking what happened because they saw in the press [that] I had an injury. I said to them, 'no, no, I am OK!'"

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