Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar has injured his left hamstring and is unlikely to return to competition for four weeks, the capital club announced on Monday. The Brazilian hobbled off the pitch in the 12th minute of the Seleçao's 1-1 friendly draw with Nigeria in Singapore on Sunday.

This means the playmaker, who has kept his side at the top of the table with crucial goals in recent weeks, will miss a number of crucial matches over the next four weeks.

Four weeks

"Neymar had an MRI on Monday afternoon that confirmed a grade 2 lesion of the left hamstring," read the club's official statement. "A medical check-up on his progress will be done again in eight days, but the time to return to competition is estimated at 4 weeks, depending on the progress."

Having served out a two-match suspension in the Champions League after criticising refereeing in his side's elimination at the hands of Manchester Untied last season, Neymar was due to return to the European stage against Club Bruge on 22 October. But with this new injury, not only will he miss the European double-header against the Belgian club, but also the Classique against Marseille, scheduled for 27 October.

A good start to the season in Ligue 1 Conforama

After starting late, Neymar made a promising start to the season with PSG by scoring four goals in five Ligue 1 Conforama matches. Since joining the capital club in the summer of 2017, the Brazilian superstar has had more than his share of physical problems, with two major injuries to his right foot keeping him out of action for several months.  

The 27-year-old forward injured his ankle with the Seleçao on 5 June in a friendly against Qatar, an injury that ruled him out of the Copa America, which Brazil won at home in July.

Draxler, Dagba back in trinaing

The good news for Parisian coach Thomas Tuchel is the return to training of Julian Draxler and Colin Dagba, as well as the fact that injured star forwards Kylian Mbappé and Edinson Cavani are close to regaining fitness.