Injury delays and call-up uncertainty worry Jardim in Flamengo’s Portugal camp | OneFootball

Flamengo have turned to academy players during their Portugal camp to plug gaps, with injury delays and uncertainty over nine World Cup call-ups leaving Leonardo Jardim concerned.

According to Globo.com, centre-back Léo Ortiz is still out after a grade 1 right hamstring strain suffered in the win over Coritiba, the last match before the World Cup break. He was expected to be available on the squad’s return but has yet to rejoin full training, and Jardim currently has no return date for the defender.

There is hope he could be back at least for Benfica on 11 July, and depending on progress he might get minutes against Lausanne-Sport on Wednesday at 16:30 Brasília time. The staff’s caution has already disrupted initial plans.

It is not the first recovery to drag on. Midfielder Pulgar was initially tipped for a short lay-off yet missed almost two months, returning in late May to face Cusco and Coritiba before the pause.

The nine World Cup players will return in very different states. Paquetá and Arrascaeta picked up injuries, Léo Pereira and Carrascal did not play, and Alex Sandro featured sparingly. Danilo started at right-back, Plata completed 90 minutes in all four of Ecuador’s games, Varela did the same across Uruguay’s three, and De la Cruz came off the bench.

Flamengo do not yet know when they can use them again. After mandatory rest, each player will undergo individual assessments to decide if they can be available for the Campeonato Brasileiro’s restart on 22 July. Jardim said integration will depend on condition, handled case by case to restore players to their pre-call-up level.

Source: Globo.com