Liverpool's Mane suffers injury scare on Senegal duty

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifiers - South Africa v Senegal - Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa - November 10, 2017 - Senegal's Sadio Mane in action with South Africa's Dean Furman. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

(Reuters) - Liverpool and Senegal forward Sadio Mane has returned to the Premier League club earlier than scheduled after tweaking his hamstring on international duty, the Senegal Football Federation has said.

The 25-year-old made crucial contributions for Senegal as they sealed a berth in the 2018 World Cup finals with a 2-0 win over South Africa on Friday.

"Following the match between South Africa and Senegal on Friday, Sadio Mane slightly felt his old injury," the Senegal Football Federation said in a statement.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifiers - South Africa v Senegal - Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa - November 10, 2017 Senegal's Sadio Mane in action. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

"After consultations between the medical staff of the national team of Senegal and Liverpool it was decided by mutual agreement to make him available to his club to continue treatment until full recovery."

Mane missed five games for Liverpool after sustaining the hamstring injury on Senegal duty in September and returned in the Merseyside club's league win over West Ham United earlier this month.

Liverpool are fifth in the league and host Mane's former club Southampton, who are 13th, on Saturday.

(Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru)