Former Everton forward Richarlison will miss Brazil's friendly against Morocco this week after he was forced off injured for Tottenham Hotspur Hotspur against Southampton on Saturday.
And the 25-year-old now faces a race to be fit to play against his old club Everton when Premier League fixtures resume after the international break.
Richarlison has struggled for consistent game time since completing a £50m plus add-ons move from Goodison Park to Spurs last summer. But having started for Antonio Conte's side against the Saints, he left the field in tears after only four minutes. It has been suggested that Richarlison went down injured during the pre-match warm-up but was still deemed fit enough to the start the game, which resulted in an epic 3-3 draw, and which boosted Liverpool's top-four chances but didn't help Everton in their battle to beat the drop.
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A statement from the Brazilian football federation (CBF) (as per football.london) confirmed Richarlison's withdrawal from the national team squad, who are also without the services of PSG centre-back Marquinhos. It said: "Defender Marquinhos and striker Richarlison are out of the Brazilian squad. Still recovering from an injury to his abdominal muscles, the Paris Saint-Germain defender will not be available for the next friendly against Morocco, on March 25, in the opposing country.
"The number nine of Tottenham had to be replaced in a game valid for the Premier League on Saturday morning, against Southampton and left the pitch crying. The team's doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, made contact with Richarlison's club and found that the athlete is unable to play for the friendly. Coach Ramon Menezes is studying the call-up of two athletes to make up for the absences."
Marquinhos and Richarlison have been replaced in the Brazil squad by Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer and Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto respectively.
Everton are not back in action until Monday, April 3, when Tottenham will travel north to Goodison Park. It would be Richarlison's first return to the Blues, where he remains a hugely popular figure with supporters.
Spurs' 3-3 draw with relegation-threatened Southampton, which saw them relinquish a two-goal second-half lead, put a dent in their top-four ambitions as the season enters its business end. Tottenham are currently fourth, two points clear of Newcastle United and seven ahead of Liverpool, but have played two games more than both the Reds and Magpies.
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