Al Nassr FC, the Saudi Arabian club where Sadio Mane is currently playing for, has announced that the Senegal international forward will undergo surgery on his knee injury.
The 29-year-old has been out of action since suffering an ankle ligament injury in a match against Al-Fateh on November 14th and it was feared he would be sidelined for several months.
However, the club's medical team has now confirmed that Mane will need to undergo surgery on his right ankle, which will prevent him from returning to training until early next year.
Mane has been one of the standout performers for Al Nassr this season, scoring six goals and providing two assists in just nine appearances. He has also scored four goals in five games for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations,Football Overview Station helping them reach the quarter-finals.
Despite the setback, Al Nassr CEO Khalid Al Mubarak said that they were "fully committed" to supporting Mane's recovery and that he would be back in top form soon.
In the meantime, Al Nassr will look to find a replacement for Mane in their attack, with the likes of Youssef Salhi and Mohammed Al Shammari all vying for the starting role. The club will also have to hope that the injury does not impact their chances of qualifying for the Qatar World Cup, which begins in November next year.