I don’t think he will play – Virgil van Dijk sympathises with Sadio Mane

Van Dijk knows all about missing major tournaments with injury

Virgil van Dijk has sympathy with former Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane who faces a race to be fit for the World Cup (Peter Byrne/PA)

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk admits he feels for former Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane in his battle to be fit for the World Cup.

The Dutch face Senegal in their opening group match on Monday but Van Dijk does not expect to see Mane, who left Anfield for Bayern Munich in the summer, lining up against him as the forward is doubtful with an injury to his right fibula.