Is Neymar fit to play in Japan already?

PSG will kick their Japan tour off with a game against Cristiano Ronaldo's side Al-Nassr on Tuesday, and Le Parisien touched on the possibility of Neymar making a return to the pitch in today's game.

This is the second match PSG will play in the preseason and the first in Japan. The focus will be on PSG's attack, which appears to be lacking depth, especially in the absence of Kylian Mbappe and with Neymar training of late but still recovering from his season-ending injury.

PSG are more than well-equipped on the defensive and midfield sectors of their roster, but the attacking unit remains a little bit of a concern, particularly with the arrival of Luis Enrique.

The Spanish coach is expected to bring an attacking flair to the team and wants a couple of wingers along with a striker in his preferred 4-3-3 formation, which he simply doesn't have now.

Neymar's return to action is eagerly awaited, but despite being close to full fitness, he may not feature in the match against Al-Nassr on Tuesday, July 25.

Neymar recently resumed collective training but remains physically fragile, and rushing him back into full action could risk an injury setback and the potential miss of further games heading into the season.

If Neymar can't play and Enrique opts to deploy his favorite 4-3-3 shape, the attacking trio could feature players such as youngsters Ismael Gharbi, Hugo Ekitike, Ilyes Housni, Noha Lemina, or a subpar veteran like Marco Asensio.

All of the above said Neymar could still make a cameo appearance during the tour in Japan and South Korea. However, caution is advised as the Brazilian star only recently rejoined collective training after ankle surgery in March.

His lack of match fitness could lead the coaching staff to take a cautious approach and avoid rushing him back too soon, but the PR appeal and the Asian fans present in the training sessions and the games of PSG might force Paris Saint-Germain into showcasing him.

Several players, including Keylor Navas, Presnel Kimpembe, Renato Sanches, and Lee Kang-in were not able to participate in the last training session ahead of Tuesday's affair with Al-Nassr due to various physical issues.

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