Barcelona star Luis Suarez is training with Uruguay but is not yet ready to return.PHOTO/Courtesy.
PHILADELPHIA, USA, June 9 – Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez says Luis Suarez will not feature in the Copa America clash against Venezuela tonight due to his ongoing hamstring problem and suggested he may not play any part in the tournament.
Uruguay face Venezuela at 1:30am Kenyan time on Thursday in need of a positive result after a 3-1 loss to Mexico in their group opener.
The match will be televised live on pay television StarTimes Tv on Channel World Football/Sports Focus before Mexico faces Jamaica at 4am at World Football Channel.
Suarez missed the opener with the injury he picked up while representing Barcelona in their Copa del Rey final victory over Sevilla on May 22, and Tabarez told a news conference the 29-year-old is “still in recovery.”
He added: “It’s the 17th day and he is still not ready. That being the case, he will not play.”
Abarez indicated that the striker might not play at all in the United States, with the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign in mind.
Uruguay currently top the CONMEBOL table and Tabarez said: “He’s an important player and this is an important competition but the most important thing for us are the qualifying games for the World Cup.
“We are in the lead and the contribution of Suarez will be very important.”
Suarez only returned to competitive international action in March following the expiry of his FIFA ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.
