Diego Godin set to play for Uruguay despite injury concerns

Diego Godin has recovered from an ankle injury that kept him out of Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Valencia on Sunday in order to play for his country in the upcoming international games.

The 30-year-old says he was held out of the contest at the Mestalla due to precaution and that he had recovered from the ankle injury he picked up against Bayern in the Champions League last Wednesday night at the Calderon.

"I tried to play, but Simeone made the decision that I shouldn't be there. There were teammates who were more fit than I was," he told Ovacion newspaper.

Uruguay play Venezuela on Thursday night and Colombia the following Tuesday and Godin is likely to team up with his Atletico teammate Jose Gimenez at the centre of defense for his country.

"I want to play. I just had a little ankle sprain, I didn't play at the weekend as a measure of precaution. Now we will evaluate the situation and we will go over it with the doctor and the coaching staff,” Godin said.

"But I want to be here. If I'm fit then the manager can pick me or not, but my intention is to be here, and that is what counts."

Atletico play Granada at home the weekend after the internationals and then welcome Rostov to the Calderon in the Champions League before a trip to Sevilla against Jorge Sampaoli’s high-flying squad close to the end of the month.

Godin has been in spectacular form once again this season but Stefan Savic and Lucas Hernandez were excellent on Sunday as they managed to keep another clean sheet meaning Jan Oblak has only conceded two goals in seven La Liga games this year.