The right time to return
Xuan Son has spent 310 days waiting to be re-appointed to the Vietnam National Team. It is not difficult to understand why the 28-year-old striker was eager to play in the away match of the "Golden Star Warriors" against the Laos team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
I have been waiting for this time for many months, since I was injured in the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup final between Vietnam and Thailand. It always feels like that. I am very proud to play for the Vietnam National Team, Xuan Son told the press.
He even affirmed that he was ready to play the whole match: "The fans can rest assured that there were no risks or dangers for me. I am confident that I can meet all professional requirements from the coaching staff, with the best physical condition. I have practiced with high volume and intensity from Nam Dinh. At any stage of the match, I am ready to wait for the order from coach Kim Sang-sik".
Adding confidence to fans about Xuan Son's ability to play, biological expert Le Tue Dang - who has accompanied young players at the PVF Center and the Vietnam U22 Team - analyzed: "This is the perfect time for him to return. Regarding the injury, Xuan Son underwent surgery on both calves earlier this year. Starting in April after undergoing surgery, the striker was able to return to training with increasing intensity.
Up to now, Son has undergone 10 months of treatment. As the press and the striker shared, he has returned to normal training at the club as well as participated in a comprehensive test from the hospital. Therefore, in theory, Son is capable of playing 90 minutes".
Mr. Le Tue Dang continued: "I feel confident in my Son's body signs. Normally, a player after a long injury break will respond in two directions. If he is ready to play again, the player often says I can play the whole match or the coach can rest assured with me, on the contrary, if the player is not sure about his ability to play, they will say I can think but I am still a bit scared. That is the natural psychological reaction of athletes in general. So, from Xuan Son's sharing, I believe he is really hungry and has a strong mentality to compete again".
Xuan Son may start against Laos
According to biomedical expert Le Tue Dang, Xuan Son's ability to play the full 90 minutes against Laos is no longer a story of broken bones. Instead, it depends on the player's physical strength to meet the duration of the competition.
"Meeting a team like Laos is suitable for Xuan Son to play, and should even be in the starting lineup. He can play 60-75 minutes before the coach takes a break. Laos is not a strong opponent, and its professional qualifications are still modest. That helps Son gradually collide, gradually moving towards the next recovery threshold. So I said, this is the best time for Son to return. Because he can play and recover against a team with low resistance. For example, Vietnam's opponents are Thailand, Indonesia or the West Asian teams, the calculation of using Xuan Son will be different. At that time, he could be used for about the last 15 minutes to get used to the feeling of the ball.
Finally, biomedical expert Le Tue Dang believed in Xuan Son's mindset and careful preparation. This expert believes that in addition to reassuring fans, the performance of the striker born in 1997 can contribute significantly to the results of the Vietnam team's competition against Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
For his part, Son thanked coach Kim Sang-sik for putting his trust in him: I know it will be very difficult for a player who has just recovered from injury to be called up to the national team. Therefore, I am very happy that Mr. Kim cares and has high expectations for me. A goal is what I crave on my return day. But if the whole team wins, it will be an unending joy for me.
