Torres diagnosed with groin injury

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the season after scans revealed he will be out for up to a month with a groin injury.

Torres has a “grade one” tear to his left adductor muscle, which is likely to keep him out of action until August.

The 26-year-old suffered the problem towards the end of Spain’s 1-0 World Cup final victory over the Netherlands in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The Reds begin their Premier League campaign at home to Arsenal on August 15 and new boss Roy Hodgson will be hoping the positive assessment of the injury from Peter Brukner, Liverpool’s Head of Sports Science and Medicine, proves correct.

“The initial assessment was he had a mild adductor tear and the Spanish medial staff didn’t consider it to be too serious at the time,” Brukner told the club’s website.

“He had an MRI scan which confirmed a small tear. He should be able to resume training within two to three weeks and be able to play again within three to four weeks.”

Torres lost his place in the Spanish starting line-up when he was dropped for the semi-final against Germany, having looked short of sharpness following his return to the side after a knee operation at the end of last season.

He has been linked with a move away from Anfield following the departure of previous boss Rafael Benitez, with Chelsea reported to be considering a 70 million pounds bid for the forward.