England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has expressed optimism that he will recover from a knee injury in time for his side's second World Cup game against Uruguay on Thursday.

"It's coming along," said the Arsenal player, who damaged knee ligaments in a friendly against Ecuador last week and sat out England's opening Group D game against Italy on Saturday.

"Considering when the injury was, I'm really happy -- as are the medical team -- with how it's progressed.

"I'm doing some good fitness work. We'll keep pushing it -- not too quickly, obviously -- but I'm really positive about it and so is the medical team."

Asked about his chances of featuring against Uruguay in Sao Paulo, he told British newspaper journalists: "We are not sure about timescales.

"We are hopeful that would be realistic, but there is nothing set in stone and I can't say whether I will definitely be back or not.

"I am hopeful for that game, but there is nothing set in stone."