<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Doctors are still not certain when Brazilian striker Neymar will be able to return to play despite a successful ankle operation in a Qatari hospital, a Paris Saint-Germain medical chief said Saturday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The French club said before Friday's surgery that the 31-year-old could be out for up to four months, ruling him out of the rest of this season.</div><div><br></div><div>"Neymar Junior was operated yesterday, it was very successful," Hakim Chalabi, PSG's medical director general told AFP.</div><div>"Right now he is very good and he is happy.</div><div><br></div><div>"He is not so painful and the surgeons who operated are very happy."</div><div><br></div><div>Neymar will stay at the Aspetar sports hospital in Qatar for at least two days. After a period of rest, PSG will start physiotherapy, Chalabi said.</div><div><br></div><div>"Later on we will evaluate a time for a return on the field. Right now it is a bit soon to talk about." The club's medical staff will consult with the surgeons after more examinations.</div><div><br></div><div>"He is going to be on crutches for a few days but then after he should be back to half weight lifting."</div><div><br></div><div>Neymar was stretchered off with his latest injury in a Ligue 1 game against Lille last month. He injured the same ankle in 2018.</div><div><br></div><div>Chalabi said that after the operation, Neymar "should be back at a normal level but with less risk of injury."</div><div><br></div><div>Fitness has been a regular concern since PSG signed Neymar for a world-record 222 million euros ($264m) in 2017.</div><div><br></div><div>He has played only 112 of PSG's 228 Ligue 1 matches since his arrival, AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>