Santos has no fears over Jota fitness as Portugal announce Euro 2020 squad

Fernando Santos is confident Diogo Jota will be fully fit for Portugal’s Euro 2020 campaign, despite the Liverpool forward’s troublesome foot problem.

Jota sustained the injury in last week’s 4-2 win over Manchester United  at Old Trafford – a game in which he scored – and has missed the Reds’ subsequent two games.

However, Klopp revealed on Tuesday that the 24-year-old has a small chance of returning for Liverpool’s final match of the season at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

After naming him in Portugal’s 26-man squad on Thursday for next month’s rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament, Santos confirmed Jota is on course for a swift return to action.

“The information I have is that he is clinically fit and that on the 27th he will start training with his colleagues,” Santos said at a news conference on Thursday.

“Those in charge of the clinical department got in touch with me after seeing his tests. I wanted to make sure every player was analysed. That’s something I had to weigh up.

“I fully believe in the reports the health and performance department have showed me.”

Jota made an excellent start to his Liverpool career following a reported £45million move from Wolves, but he has struggled with injuries in the second half of the campaign.

A knee problem sustained in December kept him sidelined for nearly three months, though his value to the Reds when available is clear.

He has nine goals for the Merseyside outfit in 18 Premier League appearances, 12 of which have been starts, outperforming an xG of 6.4 from 46 shots.

That cutting edge could come in handy for Portugal if they are to match their achievement of five years ago and retain their European Championship crown.

The big surprise in the Selecao’s squad is the inclusion of Pedro Goncalves, who has yet to be capped at senior international level.

The 22-year-old scored 23 goals in 32 Primeira Liga appearances for Sporting CP this term to finish top of the scoring charts en route to ending his side’s 19-year wait for top-flight glory.

“I may not have seen him in the national team, but I have all the necessary information on him,” Santos said when asked to explain his decision.

“I have taken into account everything he has done this season. He is here because of the obvious quality he has.

“He’s someone we considered when he was at Famalicao and we continued to watch him at Sporting. I went to the stadium to observe and he was close to being called up before.

“One of the criteria to consider was, beyond quality and tactical knowhow, picking players who can provide different characteristics.

“It took me hours to make the final call with regards to the squad. Yesterday I still had 30 players. It’s about finding the right qualities and assembling the puzzle.”

Vamos todos defender o título de Portugal no Euro 2020!#VamosComTudo pic.twitter.com/47piWCbeuL

— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) May 20, 2021

Portugal are among the favourites to go all the way in this year’s rescheduled tournament, which has been delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A number of familiar faces are included in the squad, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix.

Ronaldo will be 37 by the time next year’s World Cup comes around, but Santos is adamant Euro 2020 will not be the last tournament to feature the Juventus forward.

“It is always very difficult to think like that with him,” Santos said. “He is a machine. He takes great care of himself.

“Cristiano, the way he takes care of himself and treats himself, we can never say no. There are many factors and it will depend a lot on his motivation.

“I believe he will be at the next World Cup. As for the next Euros, I think it depends a lot on how he will be prepared psychologically and physically.”

Portugal begin their title defence against Hungary in Budapest on June 15, before facing Germany in Munich four days later.

Santos’ side round off their Group F campaign against fellow heavyweights France on June 23.

Portugal Euro 2020 squad:

Rui Patricio (Wolves), Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Rui Silva (Granada); Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Wolves), Jose Fonte (Lille), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Pepe (Porto), Nuno Mendes (Sporting CP), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund); Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain), Joao Palhinha (Sporting CP), Ruben Neves (Wolves), Joao Moutinho (Wolves), Renato Sanches (Lille), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Sergio Oliveira (Porto), William Carvalho (Real Betis), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City); Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Rafa Silva (Benfica), Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Goncalo Guedes (Valencia), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting CP).