Luis Suarez, the star striker for Uruguay, is set to return to the starting lineup today vs. England in a must-win for both sides. Win or lose though, Suarez's ability to help out for an entire match is in question after returning so quickly from a torn mensiscus.
"Medically the knee is a solid structure and with state-of-the-art rehabilitation techniques available, it comes as no surprise to see Suarez back in contention to play," Ben Dinnery, an expert from PhysioRoom.com said.
"Even double and triple rehabilitation sessions have been adopted to fast-track his recovery. However what Luis Suarez will be lacking is match-fitness having failed to play any competitive football since early May; his ability to complete 90 minutes will be tested."
Dinnery said Uruguay would best utilize him off the bench and work him back relatively slowly from the injury, but that luxury isn't afforded them after they were shocked by Costa Rica in their World Cup opener. He noted Chile's Arturo Vidal as an example of what to expect.
"Arturo Vidal underwent an almost identical procedure at the beginning of May returning for his country's World Cup opener against Australia from the bench. He was a starter in the win over Spain last night; a display which seemingly defied his recent injury problems."
Even if he's not at 100 percent, Suarez's presence alone on the pitch should lend a helping foot to the Uruguayans, who looked helpless for much of their match vs. Chile. If so, fans of Suarez must hope he leads Uruguay to World Cup glory because the prospects of future years may be jeopardized by his rushed comeback.
"With injuries of this type the long-term prognosis isn't so good, with almost all athletes expected to experience varying degrees of joint degeneration with those at an elite level suffering higher incidence rates of arthritis," Dinnery said before adding a sliver of hope.
"At only 27 though Luis Suarez should recover well enough to return to full fitness."
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