Neymar's recovery from a foot injury has been better than expected, Brazil's medical staff said on Wednesday, but added that a thigh problem sustained by winger Douglas Costa will affect his preparations for the tournament.
Neymar was back in training with the national team on Tuesday after being sidelined since late February with a broken bone in his right foot. On Wednesday he also took part of Brazil's first fitness training in foggy and cold Teresopolis, outside Rio de Janeiro.
He underwent surgery in Brazil on March 3. Brazil's fitness coach Fabio Mahseredjian said it may take time before Neymar is back to full fitness but that the striker is moving in the right direction. "We don't know how far a top athlete like him can go, but I can say his development has been above what we expected," Mahseredjian said.
Meanwhile, Costa is recovering from a minor right thigh injury but Brazil doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said the winger will be fit in time for the World Cup.
----AP, Teresopolis
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