Neymar edges towards Brazil return as Scotland showdown looms

BASKING RIDGE, New Jersey, June 22 : Neymar could make his first appearance at this year's World Cup in Brazil's match against Scotland on Wednesday, with Carlo Ancelotti weighing whether the forward is fit enough to return after a calf injury that has kept him out of the finals so far.

The 34-year-old, recalled by Ancelotti after almost three years away from the national side, has yet to play at the tournament after suffering the injury more than five weeks ago.

His absence from Brazil's opening two group matches against Morocco and Haiti only sharpened the intrigue around a player whose career has lurched from dazzling promise to a medical file thick enough to alarm even the most optimistic supporter.

Neymar last played for Brazil in 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier.

Since then, he has been sidelined for more than 650 days by a string of injuries sustained during spells playing in Saudi Arabia and Brazil, where he returned to boyhood club Santos last year in an attempt to revive his career.

Instead, his comeback has been stop-start, with further injuries and fresh controversies interrupting his search for rhythm and sharpness.

This year he has scored six goals and provided four assists in 15 matches, while being carefully managed and never playing more than four consecutive games since returning from knee surgery in February.

His inclusion in Ancelotti's squad sparked fierce debate in Brazil, largely because nobody seemed entirely sure when he would be fit - or what version of Neymar would emerge if he was.

NEYMAR BACK IN FULL TRAINING

After missing the matches against Morocco and Haiti, Neymar resumed full training last week. On Monday, he took part in his first tactical and