Uruguay are confident that striker Luis Suarez will participate in the 2014 World Cup as the 27-year-old continues his recovery from a knee surgery.
The Liverpool star's World Cup participation has been in doubt after he damaged the meniscus in his left knee during training. However, after a successful keyhole surgery, Uruguayan team doctor Alberto Pan is very optimistic about Suarez's chances, though he did not mention when exactly the forward would be back.
"The core of the concept of his return was expressed in the initial statement made in the immediate post-operative period and we can happily say that Luis' participation in the World Cup is not ruled out," Pan pointed out.
"It is very risky to give exact dates. We cannot have absolute certainty or clear numbers but the post-operative period has been very good. Luis is not ruled out of the World Cup, but you cannot talk about specific times. Luis is very positive, I never heard a negative expression, and he says it is better every day. Today he is painless and is working on fitness and supporting essentials."
Despite Suarez being the key member of the Uruguayan squad, coach Oscar Washington Tabarez stressed that he is not going to pressurise the Liverpool talisman to make a speedy recovery.
"What happens with Luis will depend on the evolution of his knee. We have no doubt about his enthusiasm and condition but our main concern is the health of the player," Tabarez said.
Meanwhile, Newcastle defender Paul Dummett has reportedly received death threats after the Uruguay Football Association hinted that Suarez's injury may have originated from a tackle by the 22-year-old during Liverpool's final Premier League clash of the season against the Magpies.
The Wales defender was sent off (the red card was later rescinded on appeal) for a heavy tackle on Suarez, and it is believed that the challenge had caused some damage to the striker's knee.
So many Uruguay fans then took to Twitter to deliver death threats to the young Welshman.
"Hi Paul Dummett. I hope some day you come here [Uruguay] to have a nice time with friends. We have things for you, like a bullet in the head," read a tweet.
"Hey, Paul Dummett. If Suárez doesn't play against England, you'll never play again," read another.
However, Pan, in an attempt to calm down the fans, stated that there was no evidence to prove that Dummett's tackle had caused the injury.
"You cannot be sure that the injury is due to trauma in the last game of the Premier League, there are no certainties," he said.
