Santos plan for Neymar to feature in nearly all games before the World Cup | OneFootball

Santos intend to use Neymar in almost every match up to the World Cup, managing his fitness to handle a busy run. According to Globo.com, the club want him physically ready for the schedule.

They expect the Santos captain to be called up by Carlo Ancelotti for Brazil at the tournament, with preparations at Granja Comary starting on 25 May.

Until then, Santos face 14 fixtures in the Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil and Copa Sudamericana. The plan is for Neymar to play in 13, except the Sudamericana opener at Deportivo Cuenca in Ecuador next Wednesday.

He is being held back now to sharpen conditioning so he can cope with the rest. Coach Cuca said he missed part of last week’s training after undergoing PRP, which uses the player’s own blood to speed muscular and cellular recovery.

Neymar has worked in double sessions while out to build fitness, aiming to be available for the remaining games. The club accept he might not feature in every match, with decisions reviewed constantly by staff and the player’s camp.

Specific cases are being assessed, including the trip to Palmeiras on the synthetic surface at Allianz Parque in the league. Playing what could be his last World Cup is a major ambition, but he has yet to be in any of Ancelotti’s squads, and the World Cup list will be announced on 18 May.

Source: Globo.com