Vietnam suffer double body blow

Defending champions Vietnam will be deprived of their two key frontmen for the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup tournament.

Former "golden boy" Pham Van Quyen (pictured), who twice underwent the knife in September for an ankle problem, will now face a longer spell on the sidelines than the initial two months estimated recovery timescale.

The expected absence of Van Quyen is a double body blow for Vietnam, with key component Le Cong Vinh also not anticipated to recover in time from surgery for Asean\'s premier football competition.

Van Quyen showed immense promise at youth level for Vietnam in 2000 and featured in his country during the 2002 Asean Football Championship but a scandal in 2005 forced him out of football until January 2009.

Vietnam tactician Henrique Calisto promptly recalled the attacker to the national squad in August but Van Quyen\'s subsequent ankle damage has now ruined his prospects of featuring in the 2010 AFF Cup edition.

"It is good that he was treated in the best way. With such treatment, he can play elite football (in the future). Van Quyen was in my plan for the AFF Suzuki Cup, but now I will have to change it," lamented Calisto.

Despite immersing himself with some light training with the national squad, Cong Vinh, who bagged the goal against Thailand in the final two years ago, is not expected to feature in the showpiece event in December.

Vietnam will begin the defence of their AFF Cup crown against Myanmar, before pitting their wits against the Philippines and Singapore in their Group B clashes.