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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Sadio Mane in line to start for Liverpool against Norwich as Jurgen Klopp gives Naby Keita update

Sadio Mane is in line to start for Liverpool when they host Norwich at Anfield on Friday night.

The Senegal international only returned to training this week after a lengthy campaign ended in defeat for his nation in the Africa Cup of Nations final on July 19.

Senegal's progression to the final of the international tournament meant Mane had effectively been playing competitive football for close to 12 months and Klopp was keen to assess his 26-goal forward upon his comeback to Melwood on Monday.

Mane had two days of fitness work alone with club coaches before linking up his team-mates on Wednesday and he is now under consideration for Friday's Premier League curtain-raiser.

Gini Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane of Liverpool during a training session at Anfield on September 17, 2018 (John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Klopp said: "He only had two weeks off so he didn’t lose a lot which is the good news and he looks fit.

"Monday, he came in at around 4pm after we had all left and he did his individual session.

"Yesterday (Wednesday), he was training with the rest of the team. He looks absolutely OK, so yes, he is an option to start, but we will see."

The Liverpool manager also offered an update on Naby Keita, whose last competitive game for Liverpool came on May 1 in a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona.

Keita was rushed back ahead of schedule by Guinea before he was sent home from his AFCON campaign after picking up another injury.

After returning to full training with his club earlier this summer, Keita looked sharp during a second-half cameo against Manchester City in Sunday's Community Shield and the Reds boss is anticipating a big second season from the £52million midfielder.

"Naby, as he was injured after AFCON, had ups and downs and he is building towards that 100 percent fitness.

"It is the same for Ox (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain), he had a fresh start and it's really important we have these boys in.

"It's a long season and we have to be ready for all the games. I was really happy with the influence and contribution of Adam (Lallana), Naby and Shaq (Xherdan Shaqiri) when they came in [against Manchester City] because they were injured, they have really shown we have different options.

"Naby looks completely different already and you could see he is much more settled with his body language, everything is different for him."

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