Ronald Koeman has ruled Sadio Mane out of the African Cup of Nations – but the winger may still travel for the tournament.

Mane injured himself scoring the opening goal in the win against Arsenal and scans have revealed a calf problem that would rule him out of action for Saints for four-six weeks.

That should effectively prevent him playing in the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

However, his nation, Senegal, can still exercise their right to call up the player and make their own decision on whether he is fit to figure for them or not.

Saints will inevitably be worried that if Mane does travel that he will end up playing some part for his country even if not at 100 per cent, risking a more major injury for his return to St Mary’s.

It could spark a tense situation between Saints and Senegal in the coming days.

Koeman said: “Sadio has a calf injury. He will be out for four-six weeks and he don’t play the Africa Cup.

“There is some contacts with the (Senegal) Federation now and maybe they will call the player to have a test or to see what exactly happened but they have to know it.

“The contact and the scans they received everything and if their doctor is like the doctor we have then he won’t play.”