Andrés Guardado will undergo surgery but will be ready for the World Cup, says Osorio

Midfielder Andrés Guardado, who was included in Mexico's preliminary call-up for the World Cup on Monday, will have to undergo surgery but will be ready to compete in the World Cup, said coach Juan Carlos Osorio.

The footballer, who plays for Real Betis in Spain, suffers from a right thigh injury that consists of a compression of the sciatic nerve, and no matter how much he tried to avoid the operation, he will have to go to the operating room.

"I'm not an expert, but on the recommendation of Carlos Pecanha (physiotherapist) and José Luis Serrano (doctor), he will be operated on to try to alleviate his problem. Betis was consulted, accepted, and Guardado will be here on Wednesday to be operated on as soon as possible," said Osorio after announcing the call-up.

"There is a great chance of success, since Pecanha has experience with other players in previous processes and we just have to wait for everything to be resolved," added the Colombian strategist.

Guardado, 31, seeks to participate in his fourth consecutive World Cup.

The midfielder and captain of the 'Tri' explained that the discomfort originated a month ago in a Spanish league match against Las Palmas.

"It was a strong blow to the fibula, where a branch of the sciatic nerve passes, it left me affected and from there I have been pushing to finish the season in the best way, but in the end I couldn't be there," explained Guardado to the Televisa network.

"The doctors from Betis and the national team say that the best option is to open up, perform a small nerve release, and that's it. They tell me that in 10 or 12 days I will be training normally, I trust that it will be like that and that I can be well for the World Cup," he added.

SOURCE: Reuters