The South American side’s star striker has been included in their line-up for the Group D clash despite fears over his fitness

By Kris Voakes at Arena Corinthians

Luis Suarez has been included in the Uruguay starting XI for their crucial World Cup Group D fixture against England in Sao Paulo.

The Liverpool striker has only recently recovered from a knee injury and claimed that he would not play in the match at the Arena Corinthians unless he was 100 per cent fit.

But Uruguayan coach Oscar Tabarez admitted in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday that Suarez is key to his plans, regardless of whether he is short of match fitness.

“If he plays [against England] we must consider the possibility that he is not as fit as he was with Liverpool,” said the 67-year-old.

“But even if he is not 100%, he is important”.

England, for their part, are unchanged from the XI that lost 2-1 to Italy in Manaus.

The two sides head into the 21:00CET kick-off both looking to collect their first points of the tournament.

URUGUAY: Muslera, Caceres, Gimenez, Godin, A. Pereira, Gonzalez, Arevalo Rios, Lodeiro, Rodriguez, Cavani, Suarez.

ENGLAND: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Henderson, Gerrard; Welbeck, Sterling, Rooney; Sturridge.