Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres may not be fit for the entire group stage of the World Cup because of fears a rushed return may cause him long-term knee problems.
The Reds medical team is monitoring Torres' rehabilitation from knee surgery after he tore the cartilage in his right leg against Benfica in the Europa League last month.
And despite initial reports suggesting the star striker would be back in time for the World Cup, Liverpool's new head of sports medicine Peter Brukner cast doubt on his participation in Spain's opening matches.
'You can't be absolutely certain of anything but at this stage, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup,' Brukner explained.
'Whether he'll be fit for the first game or not is uncertain.
'We're anxious not to hurry him along too much because we want the long-term benefit, but we're aware he's got the short-term goal of playing in the World Cup.
'Hopefully we can get a compromise between those two where he plays in the World Cup and he's fit and well for Liverpool next season.'
After an injury-ravaged campaign for Liverpool in 2009/10, Torres himself raised fears over his long-term fitness if he continues to play in the Premier League - leading to speculation over a possible move this summer.
But Brukner believes the second of Torres' two knee operations this year will see him back up to full speed to continue his Liverpool career next season.
'In the first few minutes of the Benfica game here at Anfield, he hyper-extended his knee and re-injured it,' said Brukner, who will join the Merseysiders' medical team permanently after he serves on the backroom staff for Australia at the World Cup.
'We felt even with a period of rest it wasn't going to heal by itself and it needed another telescopic surgery just to trim the area that's been torn.
'That would enable him to fully recover and play, not just in the World Cup but for many years to come for Liverpool.'
The Reds medical team is monitoring Torres' rehabilitation from knee surgery after he tore the cartilage in his right leg against Benfica in the Europa League last month.
And despite initial reports suggesting the star striker would be back in time for the World Cup, Liverpool's new head of sports medicine Peter Brukner cast doubt on his participation in Spain's opening matches.
'You can't be absolutely certain of anything but at this stage, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup,' Brukner explained.
'Whether he'll be fit for the first game or not is uncertain.
'We're anxious not to hurry him along too much because we want the long-term benefit, but we're aware he's got the short-term goal of playing in the World Cup.
'Hopefully we can get a compromise between those two where he plays in the World Cup and he's fit and well for Liverpool next season.'
After an injury-ravaged campaign for Liverpool in 2009/10, Torres himself raised fears over his long-term fitness if he continues to play in the Premier League - leading to speculation over a possible move this summer.
But Brukner believes the second of Torres' two knee operations this year will see him back up to full speed to continue his Liverpool career next season.
'In the first few minutes of the Benfica game here at Anfield, he hyper-extended his knee and re-injured it,' said Brukner, who will join the Merseysiders' medical team permanently after he serves on the backroom staff for Australia at the World Cup.
'We felt even with a period of rest it wasn't going to heal by itself and it needed another telescopic surgery just to trim the area that's been torn.
'That would enable him to fully recover and play, not just in the World Cup but for many years to come for Liverpool.'
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