Paulinho and Piquerez train with squad and could boost Palmeiras in Copa do Brasil | OneFootball

Palmeiras returned to training on Monday following a 4-1 league win. Paulinho and Piquerez joined the group, lifting hopes of midweek involvement.

According to Globo.com, the pair remain under some restrictions. Piquerez missed Sunday with oedema in his left leg and joined part of the on-field work as a neutral player.

Paulinho has been out since the start of the month. The forward is close to overcoming a thigh muscle injury, began his physical transition on Saturday and completed most of Monday's session with team-mates.

There is optimism over their return, but Piquerez's place in the starting line-up is uncertain. Paulinho should be named in the squad, likely on the bench.

Players who logged more than 45 minutes at the weekend carried out recovery work indoors. The rest, alongside Piquerez and Paulinho, focused on small-sided technical drills, while goalkeepers worked on distribution after shot-stopping.

Abel Ferreira has one more session at the Academia de Futebol on Tuesday before facing Santos. The staff typically meet the squad on match day to finalise the XI and deliver final instructions. The quarter-final first leg is on Wednesday at 21:30 at Nubank Parque.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”