Neymar surprisingly included in Al-Hilal’s AFC Champions League squad as Jorge Jesus makes huge call on injury-plagued Brazilian

Neymar’s injury and lengthy rehabilitation process has kept him sidelined for almost a year. Although there was initial hope that he would return to action by the end of the October international break, it now appears that his comeback might take longer and might even stretch until sometime in the new year.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite his fitness concerns, Neymar still leads Al-Hilal’s 31-man squad list for the prestigious AFC Champions League, according to a report from Al-Riyadiya. The AFC’s registration system allows changes to the squad to be made up until five days before the opening game, after which the list will remain unchanged until the end of the group stages. The window for further registration will reopen during the winter transfer period.

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    Neymar has only featured in five matches for the club, scoring just one goal. This is a far cry from the expectations placed on the South American forward, given his substantial contract and reputation. However, the goalscorer continues to work on his recovery and recently posted a training video along with a caption that read: “Work in silence. Don’t give up.”

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    WHAT NEXT?

    Al-Hilal’s quest for continental glory kicks off on September 17, when they face Qatar’s Al Rayyan in Doha in the AFC Champions League. Although Neymar will most likely sit out this particular fixture, it remains to be seen if the Brazilian is called up by Jorge Jesus later in the group stages.