Chileans shudder at striker Suazo's untimely injury

Jun 2, 2010, 17:07 GMT

Santiago - Chile's prolific striker Humberto Suazo was likely to miss the first two World Cup matches with his team, after suffering a moderately serious injury.

According to Chilean media reports from Wednesday, coach Marcelo Bielsa will wait for Suazo rather than calling another player, in the hope that he will be fit to play earlier than expected.

Suazo, the top goalscorer in the South American World Cup qualifiers, tore a muscle in his right thigh during Chile's friendly against Israel on Sunday. This was the striker's first match since he suffered a shoulder injury in March.

Doctors estimated that the player will need to rest his leg for two to three weeks. However, Chilean media noted that Bielsa and his aides hope he can be fit a lot earlier, perhaps even in time for the South Americans' World Cup opener, on June 16 against Honduras.

The coach's confidence is based on the fact that Suazo had recovered from similar injuries faster than expected in the past. Indeed, the striker tore the same muscle in the qualifiers in June 2008 and recovered within 11 days. At the time, he scored a brace in an official match against Venezuela just two days after his comeback against Bolivia.

Zaragoza's Suazo, 29, is a key element in Chile's attack-oriented team, escorted by wingers Mark Gonzalez and Alexis Sanchez, and with either Matias Fernandez or Jorge Valdivia as playmaker behind the three.

Chile are set to make their return to a World Cup after 12 years. They are to play the first round in Group H, alongside Spain, Switzerland and Honduras.