The absence of Fred from Brazil’s next squad will not be filled by any home-based stars, as is Luiz Felipe Scolari’s will. The coach wants to pick players from outside of the country for the March friendly against South Africa and as such the Fluminense striker’s injury is effectively inconsequential.
Hoever, esporte.com have listed the Brazil-based players they believe could do a job up front should Fred not be available later on in the year for the World Cup.
Among the candidates are Leandro Damiao, Luis Fabiano and Luiz Adriano. The three have a decent goal return from games played since 2012 as well.
Damiao has a scoring ratio of 45 goals in 111 games (.40), Fabiano sits on 57 in 102 (.55) and Adriano of Shakhtar has scored 31 in 74 (.41).
Fred himself has bagged 38 in 73 (.52) and so the stats at least show that there would be plenty of scope for contingency should the worst happen to Brazil’s expected starting Number 9.
