Neymar gives update after worrying new injury days after returning from ACL layoff
Al-Hilal and Brazil star Neymar returned to action in October after a year out with an ACL injury and has suffered another blow just a fortnight after making his comeback
by Tom Victor · The MirrorNeymar left Al-Hilal fans hoping his new injury is nothing too serious after limping out of his second game back following an ACL injury.
The Brazil international moved to Saudi Arabia as a marquee signing last summer, but his season came to an early end following a serious knee injury. He made a long-awaited return in October, playing 13 minutes against Al-Ain in the AFC Champions League elite, but has now suffered a fresh setback.
Neymar came on shortly before the hour mark in another continental match, this time against Esteghlal of Iran, as manager Jorge Jesus looks to ease him back in. However, the 32-year-old was withdrawn before full-time and looked to be in pain before he left the field.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star shared an update on his injury on social media after the game. While he didn't provide a return date, he suggested the latest setback was something he knew could happen.
"Hopefully nothing too much..." Neymar wrote on an Instagram story (as translated by Goal). "It's normal that after one year [out] this happens, the doctors had already warned me, so I have to be careful and play more minutes."
Neymar was left out of Al-Hilal's league squad for the first half of the season, with the Saudi Pro League enforcing a limit on foreign players. Clubs are only allowed eight foreign players over the age of 21, and the club omitted Neymar in the knowledge he would miss the start of the season through injury.
He is still able to play in the AFC Champions League, hence the appearances against Al-Ain and Esteghlal. The next match in the competition isn't until November 26 - away to Qatari side Al-Sadd - and it remains to be seen whether Neymar will feature in Doha.
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Neymar's injury scare put a dampener on what was otherwise a productive day for his team. Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice before the break to open up a two-goal lead, before completing his hat-trick to seal victory 16 minutes from time.
The victory made it four wins from four in the Champions League as Jorge Jesus' side continue their flying start in the new 'league' format. They reached the semi-finals last season, losing to Al-Ain, but got some revenge over the Emirati side with their 5-4 victory in October.
Things have been going just as well in the Saudi Pro League, where a return of eight wins and a draw from nine outings leaves them top. Next up is a meeting with Al-Ettifaq, who lost to Al-Qadsiah last time out to see the pressure on manager Steven Gerrard grow further.
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