Watford winger Ismaila Sarr has returned to Cameroon to join up with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations.

A knee injury had caused a dispute between the Hornets and the Senegalese Football Federation before it was mutually decided that the player would travel to Barcelona to undergo rehabilitation under the watch of knee specialist Dr Ramon Cugat.

However, he has since returned to Bafoussam, where Senegal are based at the competition, with a crucial round of 16 match against Cape Verde going ahead tonight.

Sarr is not expected to participate in that game, but should his nation progress to the quarter finals, or the semis, coach Aliou Cisse is confident he will eventually be able to call upon one of his prize assets to provide his team with a boost.

 

Initially, Watford had said Sarr would not be attending the tournament at all, with his rehab expected to last until the first week of February, which is when the AFCON is due to finish.

However, Senegal pushed and insisted on judging the winger's injury for themselves, before the trip to Barcelona.

The Hornets are still apprehensive about his participation in the tournament, but the FSF has previously insisted that he would not be risked unnecessarily.

Should Senegal be knocked out either this evening or in the quarter finals, Sarr could be in line to play some part in Watford's next game away at Burnley on February 5, depending on his fitness.