Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 5y

PSG's Neymar and Verratti face battle to be fit for Man United clash

Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Marco Verratti are fighting to be fit to face Manchester United in the Champions League round-of-16 first leg at Old Trafford on Feb. 12.

Neymar suffered an injury to his right foot, which was operated on last year, during Wednesday's Coupe de France win over Strasbourg and was taken off in the second half.

The Brazil international left the pitch in tears, and a PSG statement said he had suffered a recurrence of the metatarsal injury that threatened his World Cup hopes last year.

"Initial examinations have revealed a painful recurrence of his injury to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot," the statement said.

"The treatment of this injury will depend on how it evolves over the next few days. All options can be envisaged at this time."

Speaking after the match, coach Thomas Tuchel said: "Neymar is worried because it is the same foot, his right foot, in the same area. If Neymar asks to come off, it is always something complicated."

Midfielder Verratti, meanwhile, sprained his ankle during the 9-0 thrashing of Guingamp in Ligue 1 last weekend.

PSG medical sources indicated that the Italy international was unlikely to feature again until the last match before the trip to United, against Bordeaux in Ligue 1 at the Parc des Princes.

Tuchel is desperate for midfield reinforcements, with pressure on sporting director Antero Henrique to bring in new faces after Ajax's Frenkie de Jong chose Barcelona over PSG.

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