Uruguay striker Luis Suarez will be fit enough to start his country's crunch Group D clash with Italy next week, according to the team doctor.

After sitting out the defeat to Costa Rica on Saturday, the Liverpool forward scored twice against England as he condemned the Three Lions to an early World Cup exit.

Despite playing much of the match in Sao Paulo on Thursday, Suarez suffered with cramp late on. However, Alberto Pan, who has monitored the goalscorer's fitness, says that he will begin the crunch encounter against the Azzurri.

Speaking from Uruguay's training base, Pan told reporters: "He was exhausted, very tired, as we expected, even cramped, but he is already doing recovering exercises and is ready for the next match."

Suarez won the Golden Shoe, along with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, last season after netting 31 times for his club.

Written by
Chris O'Keefe