LIVERPOOL striker Luis Suarez says he is confident that he will
be fit to face his club team-mates when Uruguay face England at the
World Cup in Brazil next week.
Off the back of a destructive campaign with Liverpool – the 27-year-old racked up 31 Premier League goals – Suarez is widely regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous players.
However, keyhole surgery on his knee just three weeks ago put his World Cup appearance in serious doubt, much to England’s delight.
Roy Hodgson’s side have a date with Uruguay – World Cup semi-finalists in South Africa four years ago – on Thursday June 19, just five days after kicking off their tournament against 2006 champions Italy tomorrow (Saturday).
The prospect of Suarez missing out in Sao Paulo may have filled Joe Hart and co with relief, but Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has other ideas.
Tabarez is confident a speedy recovery will see the striker fit and firing ahead of schedule.
"He's responding very well and his spirits couldn't be better. He's working full out on his physical fitness," Tabarez said after Uruguay's first practice at their training base.
"As we have no set deadlines, I don't know if we'll have him for the first match, for the second, for the third. If it were up to me, Suarez would play tomorrow."
Before they take on England, Uruguay will kick off their World Cup campaign against Costa Rica tomorrow (Saturday).
And if anyone doubted the credibility of Tabarez’s assessment, Suarez himself is confident of lining up for his country as early as this weekend.
The Liverpool hitman took to Twitter on Tuesday and posted a video, keeping his followers up-to-date with progress – and no doubt sinking a few English hearts.
"I wanted to tell you the knee is going very well,” he said. “I feel very good, this depends on the day to day (work) but it's on the right track.
"I also wanted to thank you all for your support this week and, well, it goes without saying my mind is on the World Cup."
Off the back of a destructive campaign with Liverpool – the 27-year-old racked up 31 Premier League goals – Suarez is widely regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous players.
However, keyhole surgery on his knee just three weeks ago put his World Cup appearance in serious doubt, much to England’s delight.
Roy Hodgson’s side have a date with Uruguay – World Cup semi-finalists in South Africa four years ago – on Thursday June 19, just five days after kicking off their tournament against 2006 champions Italy tomorrow (Saturday).
The prospect of Suarez missing out in Sao Paulo may have filled Joe Hart and co with relief, but Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has other ideas.
Tabarez is confident a speedy recovery will see the striker fit and firing ahead of schedule.
"He's responding very well and his spirits couldn't be better. He's working full out on his physical fitness," Tabarez said after Uruguay's first practice at their training base.
"As we have no set deadlines, I don't know if we'll have him for the first match, for the second, for the third. If it were up to me, Suarez would play tomorrow."
Before they take on England, Uruguay will kick off their World Cup campaign against Costa Rica tomorrow (Saturday).
And if anyone doubted the credibility of Tabarez’s assessment, Suarez himself is confident of lining up for his country as early as this weekend.
The Liverpool hitman took to Twitter on Tuesday and posted a video, keeping his followers up-to-date with progress – and no doubt sinking a few English hearts.
"I wanted to tell you the knee is going very well,” he said. “I feel very good, this depends on the day to day (work) but it's on the right track.
"I also wanted to thank you all for your support this week and, well, it goes without saying my mind is on the World Cup."
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