Midfielder Chuong Thi Kieu. Photo VFF

Kieu was advised by doctors to get surgery on a long-standing knee injury that she had been playing through, including in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines last December.

She will need about nine months to recover from the surgery.

Kieu was one of the key players for both HCM City FC which won the national championship last October and the Vietnam women’s football team who triumphed at the AFF Cup last August and won their sixth SEA Games title in the Philippines.

“Without Kieu, the line-up of Vietnam won’t be complete. The strength of the defence will be decreased significantly,” said coach Mai Duc Chung.

Chung said he may call up midfielder Pham Thanh Huyen of Hanoi to replace Kieu.

Early next month, Vietnam will leave for Australia to take part in the first leg at the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia, on March 6.

Following the game in Australia, the second leg will take place at Cam Pha Stadium in the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 11. VNS

Five players up for VN Golden Ball award

The Viet Nam Golden Ball Award 2019’s organising board announced its shortlist of contenders for Vietnamese football's most prestigious awards on Sunday.

Talented Kieu favourite for player of the year

An outstanding performance at the 30th SEA Games and her brilliant form in the domestic championship pushed Chuong Thi Kieu to be favourite for the 2019 Golden Ball title which will be announced next week.