Brazil Replace Injured Fabinho With Allan For World Cup Qualifiers
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has withdrawn from Brazil’s squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay, and has been replaced by Everton’s Allan.
Fabinho, who had been filling in at centre back for the injured Virgil Van Dijk, suffered a hamstring injury himself in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Danish side Midtjylland in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
While Liverpool are yet to disclose the severity of Fabinho’s problem, Brazil have moved swiftly to replace the versatile former AS Monaco man in their squad, with Allan as the beneficiary.
A Brazil statement said: "Everton midfielder Allan has been called up to the Brazil squad for the two upcoming qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. The player replaces Liverpool's Fabinho, who has withdrawn with a right-thigh muscle injury.
"Rodrigo Lasmar, the Brazil national team doctor, received reports and the required information from the Liverpool medical department that confirmed Fabinho would be unable to participate in Brazil's upcoming fixtures."
Fabinho will most likely miss this weekend’s Premier League home game with West Ham United as well as trips to Atalanta in the Champions League in midweek and Manchester City next weekend.
Allan, who joined Everton from Napoli this summer, has been capped nine times by the Brazil national team.
Brazil are top of the South American world cup qualifying group, having started with 5-0 and 4-2 wins over Bolivia and Peru respectively in the last international break.
