Left defender Sun Xiang has been ruled out of China's Asian Cup qualifier
against Syria after his thigh injury recurred, said China caretaker coach Yin
Tiesheng yesterday.
The Chinese team are now training in Shanghai in preparation for the
forthcoming Asian Cup qualifier against Syria, and Sun's injury would add more
woes to their defence which conceded five goals over last three warm-up games.
"Sun is an excellent player and we need his service as our defence is far
from solid, but he did not recover from the nagging injury, so we have to rest
him," Yin said.
Sun, 26, who plays with Austria Vienna, sustained the injury in September,
and he was rather upset for being unable to recover in time for the Asian Cup
qualifier, where China are to play away against Syria on January 14
"What a disappointment! I had expected I would be fit enough for the Asian
Cup qualifier, but as a soccer player, you never know what injury is waiting for
you," he said.
