10:23 | Lima, Aug. 23 (ANDINA).
Peruvians feared the worst when their soccer star Jefferson Farfan was taken from the pitch on a stretcher during his side Schalke 04's 1-1 draw against Greece's PAOK in their Champions League playoff tie on Wednesday.
With just over two weeks to go before the crucial 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela, the Peru international looked likely to miss out through an injury to his left ankle.
But on Thursday, his club announced that the 28-year-old winger had only sustained severe ankle bruising and could even feature in this Saturday's Bundesliga game against Hannover 96.
According to a report on their official website, the diagnosis was made by the Schalke medical department after a thorough examination conducted the morning after the game.
The good news was later confirmed by Peru's national team doctor Jorge Alva.
La Blanquirroja will face Uruguay in Lima on September 6 and play Venezuela in Puerto La Cruz four days later.
Peru are seventh in the nine-team South American qualifiers and need to win both matches to keep their bid for a place in the World Cup finals on track.
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Published: 8/23/2013