PSG report ‘reassuring’ news on Neymar injury but Brazilian forward must wait for full diagnosis

Neymar scored a hat-trick last week to send PSG through top of their Champions League group

PSG forward Neymar (AFP via Getty Images)

Paris Saint-Germain have released an initial report on the injury sustained by Neymar on Sunday night, saying the news is “reassuring”.

There were fears that the Brazil national team forward, who has won over 100 caps and is the second all-time highest goalscorer for the nation behind Pele, may have broken his ankle after he was tackled by Thiago Mendes in the last minute of the game between PSG and Lyon.

The Ligue 1 champions were beaten 1-0 on the night and dropped to third in the table as a result, but the bigger worry was of their star player’s fitness amid fears he would be set for an extended absence.

However, PSG’s medical release suggested no fracture for the forward - though he will need further tests to establish the severity of the injury, regarding his ankle ligaments.

PSG were drawn to face Neymar’s former club Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 on Monday, with that tie set to take place in February.

The focus will now be on whether the No. 10 is fit to return for that fixture, having suffered a succession of injuries in previous campaigns which have seen him unavailable when PSG face their biggest European tests.

He did, however, play a part in the run to last season’s final, where PSG lost to Bayern Munich. Neymar has six goals from his five Champions League appearances this season but PSG are underperforming domestically.