Suarez knee operation hits Uruguay World Cup hopes

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is set to undergo surgery on an injured knee Thursday just 21 days before the start of the World Cup, reports said. Liverpool's Premier League Player of the Year injured his knee in training on Wednesday giving his side a major World Cup scare, the report said. The Uruguayan team and federation made no immediate comment. A statement was expected later Thursday. Suarez, top scorer in the English league this season with 31 goals, "felt pain in training" and an MRI scan detected a meniscus problem, a leading television reporter Martin Charquero posted on Twitter. Charquero said that Suarez's brother Paolo Suarez had confirmed the injury to him. Suarez did not appear at a training session open to the media on Wednesday afternoon. Team staff said he was working out in the gym. Liverpool were also anxiously watching developments, British media said. Despite the proximity of the World Cup in Brazil, the Uruguayan reports said there was still hope the 27-year-old could play a role in the tournament. Uruguay's hopes will depend on the severity of the damage found by surgery however. Experts said it could take anything from two to six weeks to recover from the keyhole operation that Suarez will reportedly undergo. Uruguay, the 2011 Copa America champions, are counting on Suarez to team up with Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani to produce the goals in a tough Group D against England, Italy and Costa Rica. Suarez was the top scorer in the South American qualifying group with 11 goals. But Uruguay only finished fifth and needed a playoff against Jordan to reach the finals. Suarez only arrived in the Uruguayan capital on Tuesday to join the squad, but insisted he was anxious to start training with his teammates. He enjoyed a stunning comeback in the 2013/14 Premier League campaign after his reputation plummeted for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra and then biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. His brilliant sharp-shooting inspired Liverpool into second behind champions Manchester City. Uruguay start their World Cup group against Costa Rica on June 14, followed by England on June 19, and Italy five days later. Uruguay have two World Cup warm-ups scheduled, against the Republic of Ireland on May 30 and Slovenia on June 4. Both games to be held in Montevideo. Suarez is the second South American star battling to be ready for the World Cup. Colombian striker Radamel Falcao damaged cruciate ligaments in January while playing for his French side Monaco and is in a race against time to recover. Falcao said on Sunday he was still not sure whether he would be ready. All 32 teams have to announce their final 23 man squad by June 2. Source: AFP