Wednesday 11 April 2018 10:15, UK
Tunisia midfielder Youssef Msakni is set to undergo surgery in the United States in a bid to face England at the World Cup in Russia.
England's opening Group G opponents suffered a major blow to their World Cup preparations after Msakni sustained a knee injury while playing in a league match for his Qatari club, Al-Duhail, on Saturday.
Al-Duhail confirmed Msakni had suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the 5-2 win over Al Sailiya, and the 27-year-old initially believed his World Cup chances were over.
"Sadly this injury has denied me a chance to continue with my club and to play in the World Cup," Msakni wrote on Instagram.
However, Tunisia hope the injury is only a partial rupture which would potentially allow Msakni to recover in time for the tournament in Russia, which gets underway on June 14.
The midfielder, who has scored nine goals in 39 games for his country, is expected to fly to the United States for surgery on his knee injury.
Tunisia face England in Volgograd on June 18 before playing Belgium and Panama in their remaining Group G fixtures.
