Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has admitted that he had to work even harder to prove himself after being affected by his early-season dismissal against Manchester City.
The Senegal international received a three-match ban following his contentious sending-off in the 5-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium in September and suffered a hamstring injury soon after returning.
Mane has not been subjected to the same adulation as attacking teammates Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in recent months but, after netting his first hat-trick for the Reds in Wednesday's 5-0 Champions League win at Porto, he hopes to now be fully back on track.
Asked whether the red card had had a negative impact on him, the 25-year-old told reporters: "Yeah, it was not my wish but it happened. It was tough on me but it is part of football and can happen. I never doubted how I could help the team and I never stopped working hard every day in training.
"I always tried to remain balanced, even when it was not working, because it is my job and I have to do it. I don't know how to describe it but it can happen to every single player and in my mind I was relaxed that it will change."
Mane now has an equal split of six goals in the Champions League and six in the Premier League this season.
Daniel Lewis
