Mané and Clyne deliver double injury setback for Liverpool

LIVERPOOL have been hit with a double injury blow with Nathaniel Clyne set to spend up to three more months on the sidelines after undergoing an operation on his injured back and Sadio Mane suffering a recurrence of an “old injury” while on international duty.

Clyne has not played since sustaining the injury in pre-season and was ruled out for “a significant period of time” by the club, with no return date specified.

The defender resumed lightintensity running at Melwood in September, with manager Jurgen Klopp hailing “a big step” forward in his recovery, but the 26-year-old has since suffered a setback.

It is understood that Clyne underwent minor corrective surgery on his back yesterday and that he will now be unavailable until February at the latest.

PROBLEM

Mané, meanwhile, has been released early from international duty after picking up the problem during Senegal’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over South Africa last Friday.

The Liverpool winger has only recently recovered from a hamstring injury, sustained with Senegal at the start of October.

On the other side of Merseyside, Everton have turned their attention to Watford manager Marco Silva as part of their long search to replace Ronald Koeman, who was sacked last month.

They have already looked at Sam Allardyce and Sean Dyche for the role but now want to speak to the 40-year-old Portuguese who has started well at Vicarage Road.

Silva is interested in speaking to Everton if a deal can be agreed between the clubs, but Watford yesterday rejected Everton’s approach.

Watford do not want to lose Silva mid-season and believe that having said no to Everton’s approach that the matter is now closed.