Martin Skrtel is breathing a sigh of relief after learning an ankle injury will not keep him out of the World Cup.

The Liverpool defender limped out of Slovakia's 3-0 friendly win over Costa Rica after only 16 minutes on Saturday and was then taken to hospital for scans. But Skrtel has been told he needs only a few days' rest before he returns.

"It is not too bad, it is just a gash," Skrtel told the Slovakian Football Association's website. "I think that in a few days it will be okay."