Mane Sent to Hospital for Shoulder Scan, Ojo Out for a Month With Back Problem
After a fiery display on Sunday that saw Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane bag a spectacular solo goal on his competitive debut, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is heading for some sleepless nights as the Senegalese forward undergoes scans on a shoulder problem he picked up in training earlier today.
Although details are scarce, the former Southampton man was reportedly involved in a collision with another player at Melwood and was immediately shipped to the hospital accompanied by a physiotherapist. That, of course, isn’t the best news for the Anfield outfit with a trip to newly promoted Burnley on the cards for the weekend. Mane was one of the standout performers as Liverpool put four past the Gunners on opening day and secured their first win at the Emirates Stadium in five years.
To make matters worse, youngster Sheyi Ojo is about a month on the treatment table with a scan revealing that the 19-year old has a fracture in his back. Having complained of pain following the pre-season tour of America in which he impressed against the likes of Italian duo AC Milan and AS Roma as well as Premier League rivals Chelsea, the pacy winger sat out the friendlies with Barcelona and FSV Mainz and was not included in the squad that traveled to North London last weekend.
According to the Liverpool ECHO, it wasn’t a particular incident but a “sustained heavy workload” that lead to his injury. Ojo was part of the England U-19 side that reached the semi-finals of the European Championship in Germany over the summer. After the Three Lions were eliminated, he immediately hooked up with the rest of the team in North America instead of taking a proper break from the game. Though he remains firmly in Klopp’s plans, first team football will likely be at a premium for the youngster over the season and with Mane’s fitness uncertain, this would have been the perfect time for him to step up.