The medical staff treating Luis Suarez remain optimistic that the Uruguay striker will be fit in time to play in his country's opening World Cup group match, despite yesterday confirming that he has undergone surgery on his knee.

Uruguay face Costa Rica in their first Group D match on June 14, with a match against England to follow. Suarez broke down during a training session and has since had surgery but he is expected to face only 15-20 days on the sidelines as a result.

A statement from the Uruguayan Football Association read: "An MRI scan confirmed partial lesion of the external meniscus [in Suarez's left knee]. But his participation in the World Cup in Brazil is not ruled out."