Chelsea striker Didier Drogba's World Cup hopes are alive after undergoing elbow surgery.

The Scottish Sun says Drogba suffered the injury during Ivory Coast's win against Japan last week.

He went under the knife in Switzerland and doctors were happy with the results, but Drogba remains a huge doubt for his country's opener in South Africa.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's men face Portugal in eight days time and the clock is ticking for the 32-year-old.

They face Brazil five days later and wrap up Group G against North Korea.

Drogba could still make the Brazil clash.

An Ivory Coast spokesman said: "The surgery has been successfully completed.

"The medical staff are confident about a rapid recovery for Didier."