Brazil continue to hope that Gabriel Jesus can feature against Argentina next week, though he won’t be involved against Colombia.
The Evening Standard report that as of Wednesday morning, it is still hoped that Gabriel Jesus will be involved against Argentina next week.
The striker isn’t expected to be fit for Brazil’s first game of the break, against Colombia, but he’s already been able to take part in some of the national team’s training sessions.
Jesus still isn’t in full training, and he wasn’t working with the team for the main part of Tuesday’s session. But it seems the initial assessments haven’t convinced Brazil to send the player back to Arsenal.
Reports in recent days have suggested that Jesus’ call-up by Brazil for the November internationals generated discontent behind the scenes at Arsenal, but Brazil staff have attempted to allay fears of a feud with the Gunners.
“There is great alignment of information (between the national team and Arsenal),” Brazilian team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told a press conference.
“The club always has a different philosophy to the national team, I know how it works. But with relationships and the exchange of information, we want the best.
“We have been monitoring the situation since the injury. Having maintained contact with the club doctor and the athlete, we know that he is recovering from an injury to the back of his right thigh.
“He has already begun his physical adaptation on the field, he has not played yet. When he arrives, he will go through all evaluations and we will continue with the final rehabilitation process.
“We have no decision on when he will play, but it is important to have him close and we called up 24 players for that reason. The player was willing to come, wanting to come, and we value him a lot.”
The initial expectation was that Jesus would be out of action until after the international break at a minimum, and his fitness situation clearly remains uncertain.
But Brazil are holding out hope of including the forward in their big match next Tuesday (or Wednesday at 00:30 UK time).
Arsenal will then be in action against Brentford that Saturday.