Neymar has confirmed he expects to be okay for this year’s World Cup by saying his foot injury will take around another month to heal.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward opened up on his recovery time to a Brazilian TV programme.
An interviewer pointed at his right foot and asked him: ‘First question. How long have you still got left?’
Neymar has revealed that he will have recovered from his foot injury in time for the World Cup
The Brazilian forward picked up the injury during PSG’s game against Marseille in February
The 26-year-old, who had surgery on his fifth metatarsal last month after fracturing the bone in a match against Marseille on February 25, replied: ‘About a month, a month and a bit.
‘The injury is progressing well, the fracture is consolidating fine, everything’s going okay.’ Neymar sounded the note of optimism after being invited onto well-watched Brazilian show Altas Horas.
Broadcaster TV Globo released a clip of the interview, due to be aired on Saturday, showing him talking about his recovery.
Presenter Serginho Groisman also posted a video clip of him alongside a smiling Neymar on his Instagram page overnight, revealing who the star guest on his show was.
Neymar (left) was interviewed as part of Brazilian television programme Altas Horas
The footballer opted to sit in a chair for his TV appearance instead of the wheelchair he was using last month when he uploaded a controversial photo tribute to late physicist Stephen Hawking on social media.
He was criticised over the caption he posted along the picture which said: ‘You have to have a positive attitude and get the best out of the situation you are in.’ The crocked star has spent a lot of his time since his injury fighting to get fit at his spectacular six-bed mansion near Rio de Janeiro.
The £6million property has its own helipad, gym, tennis court and jetty.
He was operated on at Mater Dei Hospital in Belo Horizonte on March 2.
Neymar’s cast was shown off during the programme, which will be broadcast on Saturday
Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said before surgery Neymar would need up to three months to recover and Brazil play their opening World Cup match in Russia on June 17 against Switzerland.
But Brazil’s physical trainer Fabio Mahseredian said he was sure the footballer would be okay for the tournament.
He said: ‘First he’s an athlete that looks after himself.
The PSG winger believes he will be fit in time to face Switzerland on June 17 in Russia
‘Secondly he doesn’t have weight problems and doesn’t put on weight easily and that’s a very favourable factor.
‘Thirdly he’s a young person. The time he’s got is enough to make sure he’s ready for his country’s first World Cup game.’
Late last month Neymar posted an injury update on social media showing him receiving ultrasound treatment.