A Neymar nightmare! Brazilian star's injury hell continues as his boyhood club careers towards relegation

Neymar's return to Brazil has gone from bad to worse with the forward ruled out for the remainder of boyhood club's Santos Serie A relegation battle through injury.

The 33-year-old missed Monday's 1-1 draw at Internacional after complaining of knee discomfort in the build-up to kick-off.

It was hoped that he would just miss that match and return for Saturday's home clash with Sport but the prognosis is worse - ruling him out of that game as well as the final two of a poor season.

And that is because Globo Esporte report that he has suffered meniscus injury in his left knee and will not play again for the rest of the year.

He learned of his fate on Tuesday after undergoing tests in Sao Paulo.

The playmaker's problem arose in the first half of a 1-1 draw with Mirassol on November 19, having started that match and the two previously. He did play the full duration of the encounter with Mirassol after the injury.

Speaking after Monday's clash with Internacional, Santos manager Vojvoda was optimistic about the injury.

'The plan is for him to be in the match against Sport,' he told reporters.

'I have to talk to him, I'm not in his physical presence and I will respect Neymar's decisions. But his commitment is to be there, he always wants to be there.

'Before the Mirassol game, he felt discomfort in his knee. He also felt it during the game. The following day, he was experiencing significant discomfort in that knee. We know we have games every three days.

'With travel, we'll arrive in Santos tomorrow afternoon… He's a player we need for all three rounds and he'll help us.

'He's our leader on the field. He'll be there. He felt he wouldn't be able to meet the demands of today's game."

Sadly for Vojvoda, his words will not ring true with Santos facing the prospect of being relegated.

They are currently in the relegation zone, sitting 17th in the table - one point and place away from safety which is occupied by Vitoria.