Công Phượng keeps delivering disappointing news to Coach Kim Sang Sik

Due to an extended injury, Công Phượng has yet to appear in Trường Tươi Đồng Nai’s squad for the initial matches of the 2025/2026 National First Division season.

In the third round of the National First Division, Trường Tươi Đồng Nai hosted Xuân Thiện Phú Thọ at home. Many fans hoped for Công Phượng’s comeback after a long recovery period, but he was again absent from the match roster. This marked the fourth consecutive game (including the National Cup) that the striker missed, raising concerns among supporters about the condition of the once key offensive player for Vietnam’s national team.

According to the coaching staff of Trường Tươi Đồng Nai, Công Phượng’s injury is not severe. He has participated in some training sessions with teammates but has not yet reached optimal physical condition or ball control. Coach Việt Thắng and the medical team want to ensure complete safety before allowing him to return to competition.

Fortunately for Trường Tươi Đồng Nai, even without their star number 10, the team has maintained impressive form. After three rounds, the club remains unbeaten with two wins and one draw, demonstrating tactical stability under Coach Việt Thắng and strong team spirit.

However, for Công Phượng personally, his repeated absences will significantly affect his form and chances of rejoining the national team. With Coach Kim Sang-sik seeking young talent from Vietnam’s U23 squad for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, if Công Phượng does not return soon, his likelihood of being called up for future training camps is very slim.

Since returning to Vietnam after playing in Japan, Công Phượng has repeatedly missed national team call-ups for various reasons, mostly due to injury. This has caused regret for Coach Kim Sang-sik, especially as he aims to build an attack combining experience and youth. Meanwhile, newly naturalized forwards like Geovane and Hendro will also heavily impact Công Phượng’s chances of returning to the Vietnam national team.

For fans, the image of Công Phượng wearing the familiar number 10 jersey still evokes strong emotions. Everyone hopes he will soon return to the pitch, regain his peak performance, and continue contributing to both Trường Tươi Đồng Nai and the Vietnam national team.