Senegalese winger Sadio Mane has been given the green light to play for new club Southampton after manager Ronald Koeman revealed on Thursday that he has obtained a work permit.

Mane, 22, joined Southampton from Red Bull Salzburg on transfer deadline day in a deal reportedly worth £11.8 million ($19.3 million, 15 million euros), but he has yet to make his debut for the club.

Having been granted a work permit, he will join up with his new team-mates on Friday, but Koeman said that he was not in contention to face Swansea City in the Premier League on Saturday.

"Yesterday (Wednesday) I got the message everything is done. The work permission is OK," Koeman told a press conference on Thursday. "He is flying back today and he will arrive tomorrow. It's too close for Saturday."

Mane could make his debut in Southampton's League Cup tie away to Arsenal on Tuesday.

"The last 10 days, I don't know what he did," Koeman added.

"It will be a good chance for him to be part of the squad for next Tuesday, for the League Cup game against Arsenal."