MADRID: Brazilian striker Neymar has been given the all clear to play his first game since suffering a broken vertebra in his back during the World Cup when Barcelona play Mexican side Club Leon on Monday.
The 22-year-old could get his first experience of playing alongside new teammate Luis Suarez as the Uruguayan is expected to make his Barca debut after being cleared to play in friendly matches last week by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, despite serving a four-month ban from competitive games.
Neymar missed out on his country’s ultimately disastrous 7-1 semifinal defeat to Germany on home soil after suffering the injury when he was clattered by Juan Camilo Zuniga towards the end of Brazil’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Colombia.
However, the injury could have been much worse as Neymar revealed that had the impact of Zuniga’s knee on his back been centimetres higher he could have been left paralysed.
Lionel Messi is also likely to get his first outing since his Argentina side lost the World Cup final to Germany on Monday as Barca finalise their pre-season build up to the start of the La Liga campaign when they host Elche on Sunday. (AFP)
