Sadio Mane is a massive doubt to face his former club Saints this weekend after suffering fresh injury woe.

The Liverpool attacker has returned home early from international duty after reporting a new issue with the hamstring injury from which he has just recovered.

The 25-year-old played in Friday’s win over South Africa which secured World Cup qualification.

After that, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had hoped Mane, who travelled to Polokwane with a member of Liverpool’s physiotherapy department to oversee his recovery, would be released early.

The German’s wish has been granted, but he is worried about his £34m man.

“Obviously it is a concern that the hamstring injury is again on the agenda and it will be critical for us to monitor and manage that in the coming days,” the German said.

“At this stage we haven’t seen Sadio yet to properly assess the extent, but what is clear is that we will have to stay on top of this for the rest of the week and make sure we are careful in how we look after him.

“There has been really strong communication between ourselves and the Senegal team management to ensure the player is properly protected and looked after. We respect how important he is for Senegal and therefore it must always be the case that they get to make the decision when he is under their care.

“It should not be forgotten in Liverpool, either, how important it is to Sadio that he represents his country whenever he is fit enough to do so. He is so proud of his country and recognises what a role model he is for them.

“So, in this moment all I can really say with certainty is that we will assess Sadio as soon as he lands back in the country and make decisions on what rehab and treatment gives him the best chance of being back fit and strong for the important fixtures we have coming.”

Mane only returned from the hamstring injury, sustained on international duty last month, which sidelined him for five matches prior to the Premier League win over West Ham on November 4, immediately before joining up with his national team.

Suspension and injury has so far limited Mane to just five starts in Liverpool’s 11 league games so far, but he has still managed three goals in that time.

There is further bad news for Klopp regarding another of his ex-Saints contingent, Nathaniel Clyne.

The right back has potentially been ruled out for three more months after undergoing surgery on a back problem.

The England international has not featured all season because of the issue and faces a further lay-off after he had an operation yesterday.

His problem was always viewed as long-term as he was left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad submitted to UEFA at the start of the season - and a three-month lay-off could mean he misses out again when the window opens for amendments in January.

It puts added pressure youngsters Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez, who have been sharing the right-back duties in Clyne’s absence.

Klopp has managed the situation carefully and is reluctant to play one or the other in back-to-back games but with 12 matches between now and the turn of the year he may find he has no choice.

Reds captain Jordan Henderson, who last week pulled out of England’s matches against Germany and Brazil because of a thigh problem which forced him to miss the win over West Ham, did not train with Klopp’s first team yesterday.

Another ex-Saint, midfielder Adam Lallana, has yet to play this season due to a thigh injury of his own. He is, however, pencilled in to play some part in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Melwood oday.