Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer should be fit for the World Cup after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone later on Monday, his Premier League club Middlesbrough said.
Schwarzer was injured playing for Middlesbrough in their FA Cup semi-final against West Ham United, a 1-0 defeat in Birmingham on Sunday. He collided with West Ham striker Dean Ashton and had to come off.
"Mark is likely to miss the rest of Middlesbrough's season but should be okay for the World Cup," the club's chief medical officer Grant Downie told Middlesbrough's official website.
Boro said Schwarzer, who will miss the second leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final at home to Steaua Bucharest on Thursday, could be allowed to resume training wearing a protective mask in two weeks time but may not be cleared to play for a month.
The World Cup in Germany kicks off on June 9.
Australia, who are in Group F in their first World Cup since 1974, meet Japan on June 12 and also play against title holders Brazil and Croatia.
