Striker Nguyen Cong Phuong is likely not to be able to contribute more to the team for most of the remaining time of the 2025-2026 season due to a cartilage tear injury.
Initially, Cong Phuong's injury condition was assessed as not too serious and only needed to be out of action for a few weeks to recover. However, during treatment, the developments were not as positive as expected, forcing him to have a re-examination.
The subsequent examination results determined that the striker born in 1995 had a fractured cartilage and needed more time to recover, although not surgery. The earliest time for him to return to the pitch is predicted to be around May.
The absence of the main striker causes Truong Tuoi Dong Nai to face significant difficulties in the goal of competing for promotion to the V.League in the 2026-2027 season.
Since the beginning of this season, Cong Phuong has only played 1 half in the match against Khanh Hoa in round 8 but still managed to make his mark with 1 goal before continuing to be sidelined for a long time due to injury.
In the previous 2024-2025 season, this striker showed stable form when scoring 7 goals and regularly appeared in the top scorer group, thereby playing an important role in the team's attack.
Despite the absence of Cong Phuong for most of the match time, coach Viet Thang's team still maintains positive form when leading the First Division standings with 28 points after a 12-match unbeaten streak from the beginning of the season, creating a significant gap with direct competitors.
