Neymar puts on 'very good show' to lift Santos away from danger with hat-trick

Santos head coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda hailed Neymar for putting on a "very good show" after his hat-trick moved his side out of the Serie A relegation zone.

Neymar has been struggling with a knee injury, but stepped up at a crucial time, scoring all three goals in the 3-0 win over Juventude to move Santos up to 14th in the table with one game left.

The 33-year-old has directly contributed, with a goal or assist, to six of Santos' last eight goals in the league (five goals and one assist).

And his first hat-trick in three years, which he scored in just 17 second-half minutes, was a timely one, as it moved Santos two points clear of danger heading into their final game against Cruzeiro.

"As a player, today I thought that [Neymar] put on a very good show, especially in the second half, achieving the effectiveness that the team needed in a difficult moment," Vojvoda said.

"He is working day by day to play in each game, as he managed to do so. We know that he has a little discomfort [in his knee], but he's the type of player that gives us the confidence that, although he is not 100%, during the game he will perform.

"At some points, he was going to be fine, and he managed to demonstrate that."

Neymar's contract with Santos is set to run out this month, with some reports suggesting he could extend his stay at his boyhood club. However, he has also been linked with a move to join up with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.