Former star striker Van Quyen needs an operation on his right ankle and must leave football for a long time, according to doctors.

Striker Van Quyen.

Van Quyen received the wound eight years ago. The wound was minor, so he took pain relievers before playing football. At a drill on September 8 with the national squad, he fell.

Quyen wanted to resume drilling after taking some pills, but Coach Henrique Calisto didn’t agree, saying that Quyen can play football for 5-7 years more, so he needs to treat the wound.

The coach asked the national squad’s doctors to take scans twice. Doctors observed that Quyen needs surgery and positive treatment to treat the wound thoroughly. Quyen may be treated at Military Hospital 108 in Hanoi.

If the operation is conducted, Quyen must rest for two months and may be shorter. Vietnam Football Federation Vice Chair Nguyen Lan Trung remarked that, though Quyen has to stop drilling, he will be still a member of the team.

“I’m afraid that I will not have Quyen on my team at the Thang Long-Hanoi Cup, but he will still have an opportunity to find a position on the national squad to attend the AFF Cup 2010. I’ll wait for him,” said Calisto.

PV