Defender Tran Dinh Trong (left) seen at Noi Bai International Airport on his way to see national team coach Park Hang-seo before the team departed for Thailand on Saturday. Trong's knee injury will keep him sidelined for four months. — Photo thethaovietnam.vn

After examining Trong, Team doctor Choi Ju-young said the injury was not as bad as the initial assessment which suggested the player would be out for six months.

Trong suffered his injury during the match between Ha Noi FC and Hoang Anh Gia Lai. He left the field in the 38th minute.

One of the key players in Park Hang-seo’s squad, Trong will miss the King’s Cup this week in Thailand and the 2022 World Cup qualification matches that begin in September. He will also be sidelined for about nine V.League matches.

VNS