Neymar takes step towards World Cup spotlight after joining Brazil training

[p]The 34-year-old forward, recovering from a right ‌calf injury, was seen doing drills with the ‌squad after warming up separately in boots and with the ball, offering Brazilian supporters a glimpse of ‌progress before Friday's Group C match ⁠against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/haiti/nk4v10Z1/"]Haiti[/a] in ‌Philadelphia.[/p][p]It was another step in a gradual return for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]​Brazil[/a]'s number 10, who had on Tuesday, in a session closed to the media, ​stepped onto the pitch for the first time since the squad arrived, with the Brazilian ⁠FA saying he ​did physical work and had some contact with the ball.[/p][embed guid="4a9c0d76-ee60-45ea-aa14-ce975dfe9c93" url="https://x.com/futebol_info/status/2067275993908424812" social-type="twitter" /][p]Whether that turns into full training, or even a place on the bench against Haiti, ‌remains uncertain as media had access only for the first 15 minutes of Wednesday's session.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neymar/jNOPwl3h/"]Neymar[/a] had been limited to indoor work at the team's training centre with physiotherapists and fitness coaches.[/p][p]Sources close to the national team said the coaching staff were being cautious and had no intention of accelerating his recovery.[/p][p]The calf problem was ‌sustained during [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/santos/n3QdnjFB/"]Santos[/a]' 3-0 defeat by Coritiba last ​month and is the latest in a ‌long run of injuries and physical setbacks for Neymar, who has not played for Brazil in almost three years.[/p][p]Brazil's campaign began awkwardly with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/morocco-IDKYO3R8/?mid=b5JayTEd"]1-1 draw[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] as ⁠they bid for ⁠a long-awaited record-extending sixth ‌World Cup title.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]