RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Uruguay international striker Sebastian "Loco" Abreu said knee surgery has left him "indebted" to Brazilian top flight club Figueirense.

Abreu is recovering from arthroscopic surgery to his right knee and is not expected to resume training until the end of the month, Lancenet reported on Monday.

"In order to avoid future damage to the knee, I decided this was the best time for surgery," Abreu said. "I kept putting off the operation but it reached a point where I couldn't force it any longer.

"If I continued I would risk being sidelined for even longer with Figueirense, to whom I feel indebted for not being able to fulfill my part of the deal with the club."

Abreu, who has scored 26 goals in 70 appearances for Uruguay, is recovering in Montevideo under the supervision of the national team's medical staff.

The 35-year-old joined Figueirense in July on a one-year loan deal from Rio de Janeiro outfit Botafogo.