Scotland’s World Cup rivals given positive update on key forward.
Scotland’s World Cup opponents, Brazil, have been handed a major boost ahead of this summer’s tournament after fears that one of their key players had suffered a serious injury were allayed.
Drawn alongside Steve Clarke’s side in Group C of the tournament, the five-time World Cup winners had been left sweating on the fitness of Chelsea attacker Estevao over the weekend after he was left in tears when pulling up with a suspected hamstring injury during the 1-0 English Premier League defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
Entering the tournament as one of the bookies’ favourites, Carlo Ancelotti’s team start their World Cup campaign with a clash against AFCON finalists Morocco in New Jersey on June 13, before taking on Haiti in Philadelphia six days later. They will complete their group fixtures with a clash against Scotland at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on June 24, with the 18-year-old expected to play a huge role for the Selecao.
Chelsea's Estevao was in tears after being taken off with a hamstring injury against Manchester United at the weekend.placeholder image
Chelsea's Estevao was in tears after being taken off with a hamstring injury against Manchester United at the weekend. | Getty Images
Signed for a fee that could rise to £51million from Palmeiras in the summer, the Chelsea teenager has been a huge success in his first season at Stamford Bridge, scoring eight times and assisting a further three. He has also become a key player for his national side, registering five goals from his first 11 caps.
His participation at this summer’s World Cup in North America was plunged into serious doubt, though, when he was forced off after just 16 minutes in the weekend loss to the Red Devils. “He was crying at half-time,” said Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior. “It was really devastating for him. It looks like it's his hamstring, and that has happened in a moment when he's running through on their goal for a one-vs-one chance -- he pulls his hamstring in that moment. I hope Este comes back sooner rather than later."
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However, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the youngster has been given positive news after undergoing a scan this week, with Estevao set to be sidelined for a maximum of 20 days. It is claimed he’s now hoping to be available for the FA Cup final on May 16, should Chelsea beat Leeds United in the semi-final later this month. Romano adds that he is “expected to be fit and ready for World Cup call by Carlo Ancelotti in May”, adding that there is “no doubt” that he will be available for the tournament in June.