Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Philippe Coutinho missed his side’s 3-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday due to a muscle injury.
The new Villans coach also revealed the 30-year-old will miss the club’s next two matches before the World Cup break.
Emery’s comments about the Aston Villa man has raised concerns over his participation with Brazil at the FIFA tournament in Qatar.
ESPN Brasil relay this and add the Brazil international’s situation ‘worries’ Tite, the national team manager. The 61-year-old received the ‘bad news’ a day before he is set to announce the the World Cup squad on Monday.
It’s explained Coutinho’s situation at Villa Park is ‘monitored with concern by Tite and his top aides’.
Sources have told journalist Pedro Ivo Almeida that Seleção staff ‘still don’t rule out the call-up’. The Brazil medical team are ‘still waiting for the latest updates’ from Aston Villa to learn about the player’s injury and then make a final decision.
If there’s a belief Coutinho can regain full fitness in a week or so, ESPN explain he would stand a chance to make it to the Brazil squad for the World Cup.
