Clyne "not in a good way", Klopp admits

Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne has suffered a setback in his recovery from a back injury, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.

Clyne has not featured for Liverpool since suffering the injury during a pre-season friendly against Tranmere Rovers on 12 July, and was not named in the Reds' 25-man squad for the Champions League.

The 26-year-old has been working at Melwood on his rehabilitation since July, and the club's doctors were hopeful the 26-year-old would return to first-team action in the New Year.

However, Klopp said on Friday that the England right-back may now be struggling to return within that timeframe.

"He is not that good. He was in a good way and then not, he had a little setback," the German said.

"We are on it, that's how back problems are.

"The back is a really weak part of your body. We have to make him 100 percent ready. It's not the best thing, especially not for him.

"We showed him to specialists all over the world. It's not a big problem, it just needs time. That's all."

However, there was better news on Senegal forward Sadio Mane, who Klopp says could feature from the bench in Saturday's Premier League game at West Ham, which is live on BT Sport 1 on the eir Sport package [kick off 5.30pm].

Mane was ruled out for up to six weeks after tearing his hamstring in Senegal's 2-0 World Cup qualifier win over Cape Verde on 7 October, but the 25-year-old returned to full first-team training on Thursday,

"Sadio trained with the team for the first time yesterday and looked really good. He could be ready for 20-25mins," Klopp continued.

And the Liverpool boss says he has no objection to Mane playing 90 minutes in one of Senegal's back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against South Africa on 10 and 14 November.

"We're trying to get in touch with the Senegal FA," he said. 

"Sadio is not injured anymore, but is he 100% fit? That's different.

"If they get the point they need [for World Cup qualification] then maybe we can talk again so he can come back.

"The ideal situation is that he doesn't play the second game. If he can play for Senegal, I think he should – it's good for his rhythm."

Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho has already been ruled out of Saturday's game at the London Stadium, after missing both last weekend's 3-0 Premier League victory over Huddersfield, and Wednesday's 3-0 Champions League win over Maribor, with an adductor injury.

Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is unlikely to feature against Slaven Bilic's side after limping out of Wednesday's win over the Slovenian champions at Anfield with an ankle injury.

"Coutinho not available," Klopp said.

"With the rest it will be close - Wijnaldum, I'm not sure so we will have to see. It is painful."

You can watch all of Liverpool's Champions League campaign on the eir Sport package. Jurgen Klopp's side will face Sevilla, Maribor and Spartak Moscow in Group E. Liverpool's next Champions League game against Sevilla at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Tuesday, 21 November is live on the eir Sport platform [kick-off 7.45pm].

On Saturday, 4 November, Liverpool take on West Ham at the London Stadium, live on BT Sport 1 on the eir Sport package [kick off 5.30pm].

Image: Getty Images/Ian Walton

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