Uruguay captain Diego Lugano has provided a rare piece of good news as La Celeste, the sole South American representatives after Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay’s quarter-final exits, enter their first World Cup semi-final for 40 years without a number of key players.

Lugano was thought to have suffered knee ligament damage in the first half of Uruguay’s quarter-final success over the Black Stars of Ghana, which would almost certainly have ruled him out of tomorrow’s clash with the Netherlands.

But he trained with the team yesterday (Sunday) and said: “I was able to run, which is very favourable. And pain is the last thing on my mind at the moment.”

His return would be crucial as fellow central defender Jorge Fucile is suspended and Diego Godin, who missed the quarter-final with a thigh strain, remains a doubt, despite also returning to training yesterday.

Star striker Luis Suarez is suspended after his ultimately match-winning handball against Ghana, although he avoided the possibility of a stricter ban which would have forced him out of a potential final as well.

However, midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro’s campaign is over. He was ruled out after x-rays revealed he fractured a bone in his right-foot against Ghana.