Liverpool striker Luis Suarez will be ready to play in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup, after undergoing knee surgery on Thursday, according to Uruguay’s football federation.
Suarez, 27, injured aggravated a knee issue during training session with the 2010 World Cup semi-finalists, before an MRI scan confirmed he needed surgery.
Uruguay’s head of national team selections, Roberto Pastoriza, told newspaper El Pais: We are optimistic he can play in the World Cup.”
The striker has undergone successful keyhole surgery to repair damage to his meniscus and is expected to recover in two to three weeks, his mother, Sandra Diaz, tells AP.
Suarez finished as highest goal scorer in the Premier League with 31 goals, despite missing the opening six matches of the campaign through suspension.
He was instrumental to a Liverpool squad, who rose from a seventh-place finish in 2012/13 to title contenders in the 2013/14 season, en-route to clinching the PFA and the FWA Player of the Year prize.
He also finished the World Cup qualification campaign as top scorer in the South American zone, with 11 goals as Uruguay finished fifth in the region’s nine-team group.
Uruguay clinched their place in next month’s tournament by beating Jordan 5-0 in play-off.
They play their first group match against Costa Rica on 14 June before facing England and Italy in Group D.
