Neymar will be '100 per cent' fit for Barcelona at the start of the season after back injury

Brazil No 10 suffered a fractured vertebra during World Cup quarter-final

Agony: Neymar feels the pain of the challenge that put him out of the World Cup (EPA)

Neymar’s injured back is healing well and the Brazil striker is aiming to return to action in a friendly for Barcelona on 18 August.

Neymar fractured a bone in his back following a challenge from Colombia’s Juan Zuniga in Brazil's World Cup quarter-final victory and was ruled out for the rest of the tournament. The 22-year-old is due back at Barcelona on 5 August, and told reporters at a promotional event in Japan that he will be ready to play.

"I am recovering bit by bit from the injury and I will arrive in Barcelona at 100%," he said.

"I want to have a good season and I would like to help my team-mates get good results."

Barcelona play the Mexican side Leon in a friendly at the Camp Nou on 18 August, with the winners awarded a trophy named for the Catalan club’s founder Joan Gamper. They begin their La Liga campaign at home to Elche the following weekend.

Barca ended last season without major silverware for the first time in six years and their coach Gerardo Martino was sacked and replaced by the former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Luis Enrique.

Reuters