Sao Paula [Brazil], June 1: Brazil midfielder Fernandinho believes his team-mate and star striker Neymar is not afraid of returning to full fitness following his foot surgery as his country gear up for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The former Barcelona and Santos man landed awkwardly during a clash with Marseille forward Bouna Sarr in their Ligue 1 encounter in February and sustained injuries in the process. He was later stretchered off the pitch and was subsequently required a surgery to treat the same.

However, the Brazilian is now back to training, with his teammate Fernandinho revealing that the 26-year-old is on road to recovery ahead of the World Cup. Brazil Squad for 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia: Selecao Lineup, Team Details, Road to Qualification & Players to Watch Out For in Football WC.

"This kind of injury Neymar had is a little bit difficult, I can tell because I had it too. It aches now and then. The process is a little bit complex. But, when you watch the moves he's making during the training, the way he is training, I see him very well and he's getting his confidence back, that's so important. He's so audacious, trying to dribble the defences, he's not afraid," goal.com quoted Fernandinho, as saying.

Fernandinho insisted that Neymar could make a big difference in the side's performance and, therefore, Brazil want him to be fully fit ahead of the first match. FIFA World Cup 2018 Schedule in IST for PDF Download: Fixtures, Groups, Time Table with Match Timings & Venue Details of Football WC in Russia.

"That's the first step for him to be 100 percent confident again. And we want him to be fully fit as soon as possible, till our first match in the World Cup. I have no doubt he's a player who will make a big difference for our team," he said.

Brazil, who are grouped alongside where Brazil will face Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia in Group E for the World Cup, will take on Croatia on Sunday and Austria on June 10 in their warm-up matches. The FIFA World Cup is slated to begin on June 14 and will run till July 15.