Honduras playmaker Julio De Leon is doubtful for Wednesday's Group H match against Chile because of an injury, coach Reinaldo Rueda said Tuesday.
Rueda said the Torino midfielder was undergoing tests after picking up an injury in training on Monday. He did not give any details.
"He's depressed and a bit irritated to have this situation just a few hours from the first match," Rueda said. "Everything depends on how the pain evolves and what the doctors say."
Rueda said Genoa striker David Suazo, who has a right thigh injury, would also be evaluated ahead of Wednesday's game.
"He's on the right track," Rueda said of Suazo's progress. "He's now had his third training session with the rest of the group and that's good news for us all.
"The key is to make the right decision regarding whether he starts or not, thinking not only about the game with Chile but about the following games too."
Rueda will watch the game from the stands Wednesday after being sent from the touchline in the team's last qualifying game against El Salvador in October.
The Honduras coach said his assistants was ready to take charge of the team while he sat out the one-game suspension.
"We've been talking continually about the game and what we visualize happening," he said. "We hope there's no crisis and that the group is able to perform as normally as possible."
Rueda said Chile would be a difficult rival - with or without star striker Humberto Suazo, who is racing to recover from a left thigh injury ahead of the game.
"Chile is a very compact national side that has performed very well and has a great team spirit," Rueda said.
"We know Suazo's characteristics and his qualities, I think Honduras has to be prepared to rise to the game whether Humberto plays or not."
In the other Group H game Wednesday, Spain takes on Switzerland in Durban.
