Friday 20 June 2014 13:41, UK
Samuel Eto’o is set to miss Cameroon’s clash with Croatia on Wednesday due to a knee injury and may play no further part in the World Cup.
The Chelsea striker has been battling with the problem for some time and struggled in the 1-0 defeat by Mexico on Friday, which left Cameroon in danger of being knocked out at the group stage.
He will not be available for the crucial second game against Croatia and, according to the team's media spokesman Laurence Fotso, next Monday’s clash with hosts Brazil will also come too soon.
"The doctors confirm! I would probably not be able to play the match vs Croatia on Wed, june18th due to an injury on my knee causing me pain," Eto’o tweeted.
Fotso added: “Eto’o has been told by the doctors he cannot play for the next ten days.”
If Eto’o is ruled out for ten days then he will only be available if Cameroon make it out of the group, as their next match would be on either June 28 in Belo Horizonte or June 29 in Fortaleza.
Eto’o admits the knee injury has been a cause of frustration since the final stages of the Premier League season.
"For three and a half months, I have not had the time to recover. You could see that even in the build-up to the World Cup I hadn't had a lot of practice until the friendly against Germany," he told Cameroon state television.
"During the match against Mexico, I tried but after consulting the medical staff we realised that I needed a rest. Even in the ninth minute, I felt pain.”
