: Midfielder Luong Xuan Truong (left) will not join the national U-23 team that is taking part in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualifier. — Photo vtv.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Midfielder Luong Xuan Truong will not join the national team taking part in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualifier because of his injury, the Viet Nam Football Federation has confirmed.

Earlier, Japanese strength coach Kubo Shinichi examined Truong and concluded that the player will not recover from his injury in time to participate in the event, scheduled to be held from March 23 to 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Shinichi said that the Hoang Anh Gia Lai captain, who suffered an ankle injury during a V.League 1 match, needed at least three or four months to recover. It also means Truong is not likely to participate in the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore in June.

During the past three days, Truong didn't join his team in training, but only practised lightly outside the grounds.

The VFF said that it will work with Truong's club Hoang Anh Gia Lai to prepare a detailed plan for his recovery.

Though the team's head coach Toshiya Miura regretted to hear this news, he hasn't called any player to replace Truong.

The 30-member U-23 team gathered on Tuesday in Ha Noi after the Tet holiday, in preparation for the qualifying round which will see 43 teams compete in 10 groups The 10 group winners and the five best runners-up will qualify for the finals, to be held in Qatar early next year.

Viet Nam belong to Group I along with Japan, Malaysia and the Chinese territory of Macau. The team will play the group opener against Malaysia on March 27, before taking on Japan and Macau on March 29 and 31 respectively. – VNS