Despite the frustration of dropping points against Morocco in their World Cup opener, Brazil have received a boost with the return of Neymar to training after a long injury layoff.
Neymar trained with the squad at Brazil’s base camp outside New York on Tuesday, marking the first time he has been seen on the pitch with a ball since his injury. However, he is still not fully match fit.
The forward suffered a calf injury to his right leg while playing for Santos on May 17. He joined Brazil’s World Cup squad under coach Carlo Ancelotti while still recovering. He underwent several medical tests and scans on Monday to assess his progress.
Although Neymar returned to the pitch, he did not take part in full team training. Instead, he focused on light running and individual fitness work.
Brazil will face Haiti in their Group C second match on Friday in Philadelphia. After drawing their opening game against Morocco, the fixture has become crucial for their qualification hopes.
However, according to the Brazil medical staff, the team is unlikely to take any risks with Neymar, and his involvement against Haiti appears doubtful. If he does travel with the squad, he is expected to support from the bench rather than feature on the pitch.
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