Santos set to welcome back key players, only two remain sidelined after international break | OneFootball

Santos expect an almost full squad in the coming weeks, with Neymar in physical transition and Willian Arão back training. Only left back Vinicius Lira and goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão remain sidelined.

According to Globo.com, Brazão had surgery on his left shoulder last week and will stay in physiotherapy until the end of the year, missing the final 11 matches. Diógenes, João Paulo or João Pedro could cover in goal.

He had been playing through pain, and his form fluctuated this season. With Santos now only in the Campeonato Brasileiro, the expectation is he will not be rushed, targeting 2027.

Diógenes was the first deputy, while João Pedro, 18, may be tested.

Lira, 18, sustained a complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee on 14 March. He reaches six and a half months of recovery this week, the minimum for transition work. He is expected to need four to eight more weeks before starting on-pitch training and will not play again this season, aiming to be fully ready in 2027.

Arão has fully recovered from internal oblique abdominal pain and is training at CT Rei Pelé. He could be named for Friday’s match against São Paulo. Neymar has begun his transition, reaches one month out on Wednesday, is not expected to be involved at Morumbis on two October, but could be available on eight October against Flamengo, depending on progress. He has accelerated his recovery from a right thigh injury, initially given a four to eight week window.

Source: Globo.com

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