Defender Vũ Văn Thanh has been admitted for ankle surgery and is expected to be sidelined for an extended period.

After repeatedly missing matches recently for both CAHN and the Vietnam national team, Văn Thanh decided to undergo surgery to definitively treat his injury. On the morning of September 7th, the Vietnam national team defender had surgery at Vạn Hạnh Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), which involved shaving the ankle bone, repairing ligaments, and meniscus in the ankle.

Văn Thanh’s surgery was successful, but the CAHN player is expected to be out of action for up to 7 months. Besides the ankle and meniscus injuries, the Vietnam national team defender also suffers from other problems such as ligament damage in the ankle. These injuries have persisted for quite some time, and Văn Thanh has only now chosen to have surgery for a complete recovery.

Being sidelined for 7 months means Văn Thanh could return around April or May next year. The 1996-born defender will miss nearly the entire current season with CAHN and the last four matches of the Vietnam national team in the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, including two games against Nepal in October, a match versus Laos in November, and the game against Malaysia in March.

Văn Thanh’s ankle injury began during the 2024 AFF Cup, but he continued to play despite significant swelling. Only recently, as the injury worsened, did Văn Thanh have to stop playing and proceed with surgery for a thorough treatment.

The list of injured players in the Vietnam national team is growing, with Văn Thanh joining others like Văn Toàn, Xuân Sơn, Bùi Vĩ Hào, and Hồ Tấn Tài. This situation leaves coach Kim Sang Sik with limited options for the right-back position, while the left-back spot still has two quality players: Pendant Quang Vinh and Nguyễn Văn Vĩ.

It is highly likely that coach Kim Sang Sik will continue to rely on Trương Tiến Anh for the Vietnam national team’s right-back role going forward. Additionally, Triệu Việt Hưng, Châu Ngọc Quang, or Xuân Mạnh could also competently fill this position.