AFCON winner Mane returns to re-open shop against Burnley

 

Africa Cup of Nations winner Sadio Mane returned to training with Liverpool on Friday and is set to be in contention for Burnley on Sunday.

The Senegal international only landed back in England on Wednesday night and with the team playing Leicester 24 hours later there was no opportunity to rejoin the group.

Manager Jurgen Klopp is confident he will be ready with a couple of sessions behind him.

‘Sadio will be available. He will come now this morning for training and will be in full training,’ he said.

‘We make a decision after that. Emotionally he will still be high flying but we have to see how he is.’

Klopp also confirmed captain Jordan Henderson will be back in the squad after being rested against the Foxes because of a back problem.

Mane scored the winning penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final shootout following the goalless draw against Reds team-mate Mohamed Salah’s Egypt last Sunday after seeing his spot-kick saved in normal time.

READ ALSO EPL: Salah will benefit from Africa Cup of Nations heartbreak, says Klopp

Salah was back in club action on Thursday night as he came off the bench in Liverpool’s comfortable 2-0 win a home to Leicester.

Liverpool are still competing on all four fronts following a 3-1 win over Championship outfit Cardiff in the FA Cup last weekend.

Victory over the Foxes saw Klopp’s side remain nine points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand. The Reds face Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League and come up against Chelsea at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final at the end of this month.