Quang Hai returns to practice with the Vietnamese team

Quang Hai was tense and actively asked to leave the field in the 34th minute, when Vietnam beat Laos 6-0 in the opening match of the AFF Cup 2022 on December 21. A day later, he went to a hospital in Laos and was diagnosed with a strain on his left thigh muscle.

Yesterday, he did not go to the field to practice with the team in the morning but stayed at the hotel to practice at the gym. In today's training session, Quang Hai still mainly practices alone with Doctor Choi Ju-young with jogging and muscle improvement exercises.

The extent of Hai's injury has not been disclosed in detail by the coaching staff. In the past, the 25-year-old midfielder suffered a hamstring injury at the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines and took about four months to fully recover.

In addition to Quang Hai, goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh also suffered a minor injury and did not practice this afternoon. After discussing at the yard with coach Park Hang-seo, the 32-year-old goalkeeper only supported the coach to practice for two goalkeepers Dang Van Lam and Nguyen Van Toan.

If Quang Hai is absent, Nguyen Van Quyet is a possible choice to replace, besides Nguyen Hoang Duc can also be pushed to a higher stone like the way he plays at Viettel this season. Meanwhile, the goalkeeper position is held by Dang Van Lam, so Nguyen Manh's injury is not to the point of concern.

Vietnam has a physical advantage over Malaysia, due to a break in the second round. After the match against Laos tonight, Malaysia will go to Vietnam tomorrow December 25 and have a training session in the afternoon of the same day.