Liverpool have announced that Sadio Mane will return to training after the Community Shield against Manchester City.
The 27-year-old played in the African Cup of Nations final for Senegal on Friday, and it means he will only have two and a half weeks off before the start of the new Premier League season.
Fans on Twitter are, however, delighted to hear that Mane will be back sooner than expected:
Thats what i like to hear
— ? (@Chambo_of_Ox) 22 July 2019
Good news as there's no new signing.
— #ANFIELD #6 (@dondarius471) 22 July 2019
Can’t come back quick enough. Badly needed.
— Ewen MacIntosh (@ewenmacintosh) 22 July 2019
Good news
— EBENEZER OTTO-DODOO (@otto_dodoo) 22 July 2019
Brewster to start Community Shield then? ?
— Giles (@angrysaffa) 22 July 2019
Can't wait for his return ?
— Thoby (@sammykul08) 22 July 2019
we've got it covered pic.twitter.com/dhKxQmjvON
— julien (@2ulhusn1_21) 22 July 2019
Others supporters believe he should be back even earlier:
yea we definetely aren’t going for the community shield
— Joakim? (@iconickxita) 22 July 2019
are we seriously tryna lose this season
— b? (@reddropcups) 22 July 2019
You hate to see it
— ??Harry? (@HarryLombardi) 22 July 2019
There will, of course, be fears of burn out, but the Senegalese international is a key player for manager Jurgen Klopp, and he will be needed to spearhead the club’s Premier League title challenge.
Even so, it’s unlikely he’ll start the first game of the season against Norwich with the player not having taken part in the club’s preseason preparations.
Liverpool lost their second successive pre-season friendly against Sevilla last night during their US tour. They face Sporting Lisbon next on Thursday.