Key keywords: Neymar Santos return, Santos vs Remo 2024 fixture, Neymar match availability, Brazilian Serie B 2024, Neymar injury recovery update, Santos promotion race, Neymar first appearance post Al Hilal exit As of 24 hours before the scheduled kickoff of the Santos vs Remo Brazilian Serie B fixture at Vila Belmiro Stadium, the most heated question among football fans worldwide remains whether Neymar will make his long-awaited return to competitive football for his boyhood club tonight. Neymar has been out of competitive action since October 2023, when he suffered an ACL and meniscus tear while playing for the Brazilian national team during World Cup qualifiers, which eventually led to his mutual contract termination with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal earlier this year. His surprise return to Santos, the club where he launched his global career before moving to FC Barcelona in 2013, sent shockwaves across the football community last month, with fans eagerly awaiting his first appearance for the side in over 11 years. On Thursday, Santos’ official medical team and coaching staff released the matchday squad for the Remo clash, confirming that Neymar has been included in the 23-man list after completing three full weeks of team training without any pain or setbacks in his recovery. Head coach Fábio Carille stated in the pre-match press conference that Neymar is not scheduled to start the game, but is in line to come off the bench for 15 to 20 minutes in the second half, as the club prioritizes his long-term fitness over immediate match performance. "We are not going to rush him. He has worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and we will only let him take the pitch if he feels 100% comfortable. His presence alone gives the whole squad and our fans a huge boost," Carille told reporters. Santos is currently sitting in second place in the 2024 Brazilian Serie B table, just three points behind league leaders Goiás, with 6 matches left in the season. A win against Remo, who are currently 12th in the table and safe from relegation, will help Santos solidify their spot in the top 3, which guarantees direct promotion back to the Brazilian Serie A next season, a top priority for the club after their historic relegation in 2023. Ticket sales for the match sold out within 3 hours of going on public sale earlier this week, with over 16,000 fans expected to pack Vila Belmiro, many of whom purchased tickets specifically to see Neymar’s potential return. Fans have been gathering outside the stadium since early Friday morning, holding up Neymar’s number 10 Santos jerseys and singing chants dedicated to the 32-year-old forward. As of press time, the club has not released any last-minute updates on Neymar’s status, but sources close to the player have confirmed that he is eager to step on the pitch and contribute to the team’s promotion push tonight.