Santos plan full week for Neymar, expected to miss Venezuela match | OneFootball

According to Globo.com, Neymar has no muscular issue but is not expected to be available to Cuca for Tuesday’s decisive Copa Sudamericana tie in Valencia, Venezuela, against Universidad Central. His return date remains unclear.

There is hope he could complete a full week of training on the pitch at CT Rei Pelé to be available for Saturday’s game against Chapecoense at Vila Belmiro in the Brasileirão. It is still not certain he will play.

He has been undergoing assessments of physical condition, strength and other metrics to ensure a better return for Santos after a disappointing World Cup. There had also been concern about his psychological state in the latter stage of his career.

Meanwhile, Cuca has prepared Santos without him in recent weeks and plans to integrate him gradually. The club face important fixtures from late July into early August, when places in the Sudamericana last 16 and the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals will be decided.

The first leg of the domestic cup is on the first of August against Remo at Vila Belmiro, with the return in Belém do Pará on the fourth. The indication is that Neymar could feature in those matches.

Source: Globo.com