Fernando Torres may not be fit in time for Spain's opening World Cup clash with Switzerland, according to Liverpool's new medical chief.

Torres is recovering from a second operation in three months to repair damage in his right knee and, although his rehabilitation is going well, Liverpool's head of sports medicine Peter Brukner has warned Spain that their star striker could miss the Group H opener against the Swiss in Durban on June 16.

"He's doing well and he's certainly tremendously committed to his rehab, as are the staff here, and if anyone can recover from an injury, he can," Brukner told Liverpool's website.

"You can't be absolutely certain of anything but at this stage, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup."

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