This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

Spain's football federation says the Liverpool and World Cup-winning Spain striker Fernando Torres has ruptured a muscle in his left thigh.

In a statement on its website the federation said Torres had a magnetic resonance scan yesterday at the Centro de Madrid Clinic and evidence was found of "a grade one muscle fibre rupture in the left thigh".

However the injury appears to be not as severe as first feared – suggesting Torres could be fit to play early in the season.

Torres had struggled to make the World Cup after missing the end of Liverpool's season with injuries to his right knee and looked sluggish in South Africa. He pulled up shortly after coming on during extra-time of Sunday's 1-0 win over Holland in the final.

Torres seems likely to miss at least Liverpool's opening three games. They open their campaign at home against Arsenal before travelling to Manchester City then hosting West Bromwich Albion. If the injury proves to be more serious, the striker could miss Liverpool's fixture away at Manchester United on Sunday, 19 September.

The club have yet to comment on the Spanish federation's diagnosis.