Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has been sidelined for four weeks after medical tests revealed he sustained a Grade 2 injury to his left hamstring.
“An MRI scan on Thursday afternoon confirmed a Grade 2 lesion to his (Neymar’s) left hamstring. Another assessment will be made in eight days, but initial estimates put his return to competition at four weeks, depending on how the injury progresses,” PSG said in a statement on Monday.
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This implies that Neymar could miss PSG’s upcoming UEFA Champions League clashes, both against Club Brugge on 22 October in Belgium and two weeks later in Paris.
Notably, the former Barcelona player limped off the field 12 minutes into a friendly game against Nigeria in Singapore on 13 October. He was substituted for Philippe Coutinho.
Neymar had already missed the first couple of Champions League games against Real Madrid and Galatasaray as he served a sanction imposed for insulting referees last season.
Over the final stretch of the two the seasons he has spent at PSG, Neymar suffered from a right foot problem that prevented him from helping the team advance at the continental club tournament.
He was at the centre of focus during the summer transfer window as he expressed his desire to leave the French club, but PSG’s high financial demands blocked his departure.
Neymar has scored four goals in five games so far this season for the French club.
Talking about the game at the Singapore National Stadium, midfielder Joe Aribo drew the first blood for Nigeria in the 35th minute to give his side an early lead. But Brazil defensive midfielder Carlos Henrique Casimiro netted in the second half of the game (48th minute) to equalise things.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
(With inputs from IANS)