Neymar to miss Corinthians as injuries limit him to two derbies since Santos return | OneFootball

Santos face Corinthians on Thursday in the fourth round of the Campeonato Paulista at Vila Belmiro without Neymar, who is still recovering from arthroscopy on his left knee. According to Globo.com, since returning at the end of January last year he has featured in only two derbies, playing 158 minutes across nine rivalry fixtures.

The forward was reintroduced on 31 January, a day before a Paulistão meeting with São Paulo, but having neither trained with the squad nor been registered in time, he did not make the list.

His first derby back came against Corinthians in the ninth round of the state championship, where he drew fouls and contributed to key moments before making way after 68 minutes as he built match fitness.

A subsequent left thigh injury ruled him out of last year’s Brasileirão clashes with São Paulo, in the fifth round, and Corinthians, in the ninth.

This year he missed the second-round Paulistão fixture against Palmeiras and will also sit out Thursday’s game with Corinthians. Santos’ final derby of the first phase is scheduled for 31 January at Morumbis against São Paulo, and the expectation is that he remains sidelined until February.

Source: Globo.com