MIAMI, June 18 (Reuters) – Brazil forward Neymar will not travel with the squad for their second World Cup group game against Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday as he continues to recover from a calf injury, the Brazilian football association said.
“He will remain in New Jersey to make the most of the final stage of his recovery, making use of the excellent facilities at The Ridge hotel and the Columbia Park training centre,” they said in a statement on Thursday.
The 34-year-old was seen doing drills with the squad after warming up separately in boots and with the ball in a training session on Wednesday.
He had been limited to indoor work at the team’s training centre with physiotherapists and fitness coaches, with Brazil being cautious about his return to action.
Neymar injured his right calf during Santos’ 3-0 defeat by Coritiba last month, the latest in a long run of injuries and physical setbacks for the former Barcelona and Paris St Germain forward, who has not played for Brazil in almost three years.
Brazil have one point after opening their World Cup campaign with a draw against Morocco while Haiti are bottom of the group after losing to Scotland.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Miami; Editing by Toby Chopra)