Houllier said: ‘‘I don’t think he will make the World Cup.

‘‘Since February we have tried to manage his problem in a conservative way. But he may now have to go through an operation and I would be very surprised if he made the tournament.

‘‘As a manager I would have liked him to have gone to the World Cup fully fit and I think he would have played.

‘‘But I do not think it is fair for him to go and maybe play just one game.’’