US Senator Mitch McConnell says he will not be returning to the Senate “quite yet” after suffering from a fall and “a mild case of pneumonia”.

It is the first statement from the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican after weeks of speculation about his health, following his admission to hospital in mid-June.

A photo was released by his office, in addition to the statement, which shows McConnell with his wife holding what appeared to be Sunday’s Washington Post newspaper.