Ronald Koeman admits he won’t know until tomorrow whether new signing Sadio Mane will be able to make his debut against Newcastle at St Mary’s on Saturday.

The £10m deadline day capture has not been to Southampton, having completed his move from Salzburg while abroad and then having been on international duty.

Mane played for Senegal against Botswana on Wednesday night and was already facing a 12 hour flight before a further complication, which means he will have to go via Ghana to get the necessary clearance to enter the UK.

Koeman sounded as if he was keen to start Mane against the Magpies, but admitted he won’t have a clue whether that is possible until he finds out if he arrives tomorrow.

“He played yesterday and had to travel to Ghana to get his stamp to come into England and maybe tomorrow but it will be a late decision and my decision to decide finally if he is available to play,” said Koeman.

“Maybe but I have to wait until tomorrow.”

Mane won’t have the chance to train with his new teammates before the game, but Koeman insists that wouldn’t necessarily mean he is ruled out.

He added: “I’m not frustrated because we know that situation.

“It will be a pity if he doesn’t arrive tomorrow but then he will be ready for next week.

“We have problems in our forward players because Lloyd Isgrove is injured, Sam Gallagher is injured so there are not a lot of choices.”