Chelsea have been handed a surprise Estevao injury update with the winger facing a race against time to feature at the World Cup with Brazil
Chelsea winger Estevao is set to be named in Brazil’s preliminary 55-man squad for this summer’s World Cup, just days after it was suggested he was a doubt for the tournament.
Estevao, 19, has missed Chelsea’s last four matches after sustaining another hamstring injury during their 1-0 defeat to Manchester United last month. He has sat out of Premier League matches against Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, as well as the FA Cup semi-final to Leeds United.
Before the game against Leeds, Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane revealed that Estevao would miss the remainder of the season, putting his availability for the World Cup in question.
Then an update on Monday morning suggested that Estevao could miss the tournament, as he was named on the ESPN injury tracker with the Brazilian travelling back to former club Palmeiras for treatment.
Despite this, Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti is still expected to name Estevao in his 55-man preliminary squad – which will be chopped down to 26 in due course – ahead of the World Cup in North America.
According to Brazilian outfit Esporte, Estevao is one of 16 forward players Ancelotti has chosen, including his Chelsea teammate Joao Pedro. Andrey Santos is the other Blues star picked in the enlarged squad.
Chelsea have three matches to go before the end of the season. The Blues face Manchester City in the FA Cup final before hosting Tottenham and travelling to Sunderland in the Premier League.
Here is the full Brazil 55-man preliminary squad: Vinicius JR (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Estevao (Chelsea), Neymar (Santos), Endrick (Lyon), Rayan (Bournemouth), Antony (Real Betis), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Pedro (Flamengo), Richarlison (Tottenham), Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest), Kaio Jorge (Cruzeiro).
Casemiro (Manchester United), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Danilo (Botafogo), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray), Joao Gomes (Wolves), Andreas Pereira (Palmeiras), Joelinton (Newcastle United), Gerson (Cruzeiro), Matheus Pereira (Cruzeiro).
Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Porto), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Bremer (Juventus), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Alexsandro (Lille), Fabricio Bruno (Cruzeiro), Beraldo (PSG), Vitor Reis (Girona), Murillo (Nottingham Forest), Wesley (Roma), Danilo (Flamengo), Paulo Henrique (Vasco), Vitinho (Botafogo), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Luciano Juba (Bahia), Caio Henrique (Monaco), Kaiki (Cruzeiro), Carlos Augusto (Inter).
Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Bento (Al-Nassr), Hugo Souza (Corinthians), John (Forest),Carlos Miguel (Palmeiras).
