Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is stretchered off during Liverpool v Roma
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is stretchered off during Liverpool v Roma

World Cup injury doubts: Including Neymar and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain


With the world's best football tournament just 50 days away, we take a look at the players who have a race against time to regain their fitness.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was taken off on a stretcher in the first half of Liverpool's Champions League semi-final victory over Roma on Wednesday.

It was confirmed on Thursday that the midfielder would unfortunately miss out for England this summer, though the club was unwilling to put a time-frame on the issue.

It is the time of year where any injury draws questions about availability at the World Cup - so we have taken a look at which players face an anxious wait to see if they can recover in time.

11 injury doubts for Russia

Neymar lays in pain after picking up an ankle injury

1. Neymar (Brazil, above) - Broken foot: Final examination due in mid-May

Brazil are the 9/2 favourites to win the World Cup

2. Sergio Aguero (Argentina) - Knee surgery: End of season, according to Pep Guardiola

Aguero is 25/1 to win the World Cup Golden Boot

3. Mohamed Elneny (Egypt, below) - Ankle ligament damage: May return in time for Arsenal's final game of the season, Sky Sports News understands.

Mohamed Elneny receives treatment during West Ham game

4. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (England) - Knee ligament: Ruled out for the summer, at least

5. Adam Lallana (England, below) - Hamstring: End of season, rehabilitation in South Africa with World Cup in mind

Lallana is evens to make the England World Cup squad

Adam Lallana in action for Liverpool

6. John Stones (England) - Abductor: Guardiola hopeful he will recover in time

7. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) - Knee: Hopeful to return in May

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8. Manuel Neuer (Germany) - Metatarsal fracture: Returned to first-team training, match action unknown

Michy Batshuayi receives treatment during Borussia Dortmund's match with Schalke

9. Michy Batshuayi (Belgium, above) - Ankle: World Cup fitness in doubt, player recently said he is making good progress already

10. Diego Costa (Spain, below) - Hamstring: After initial doubts, he is part of Atletico Madrid's squad travelling to Arsenal

Diego Costa

11. Kingsley Coman (France) - Ankle: Pictured on crutches in April after picking up problem in March, hopeful of returning in time

Posted at1205 BST 25/04/18.

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