Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti says Neymar expected to pass fitness test before World Cup

Following reports that the 34-year-old forward might be sidelined for three weeks, Ancelotti stated that Neymar was progressing well towards fitness for the 13 June match against Morocco in New Jersey.

"We believe he will return very soon and if he is not ready for the opening match, he will be available for the second game," said the Italian manager Ancelotti.

Neymar, a former Barcelona and PSG star who now plays for Brazilian club Santos, will be absent from Brazil's two pre-World Cup friendlies against Panama and Egypt.

Brazil face Panama on Sunday at the Maracana stadium before moving to New Jersey on Monday for a training camp, then playing a final warm-up match against Egypt on 6 June in Cleveland.

Neymar's selection in Ancelotti's 26-player World Cup squad came as a surprise, given that he had not been called up to the national team for almost three years owing to a combination of injuries and poor form.

Nonetheless, Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, having scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for the Selecao. This will be his fourth World Cup tournament.