SLNA midfielder likely to be added to AFF Cup 2018 campaign

The top face worth mentioning for a trial position in the Vietnam national team in the near future is striker Nguyen Tien Linh.

Playing for B.Binh Duong, Tien Linh has scored 11 goals in V-League 2018, being the domestic striker with the most goals in the tournament up to now, and still has the ability to compete for the title of top scorer of the season (the current leader in the V-League scoring list is Oseni of Hanoi Club - 14 goals).

Having a playing style quite similar to his senior Nguyen Anh Duc, Tien Linh has at times very well replaced his senior's role in the Thu Dau Mot team.

Tien Linh is a promising young striker of Vietnamese football.

Once included in the Vietnam Olympic team's training camp for the 2018 Asian Games, Tien Linh was only eliminated at the last minute because coach Park Hang Seo needed more experienced players in attack.

In the upcoming AFF Cup 2018, when the number of players called up will be greater, it is likely that Tien Linh will be given the opportunity, especially in the context that Vietnamese football does not possess many strikers with good physique like Tien Linh or Anh Duc.

Also talking about new factors, playing outstandingly in V-League and deserving of a chance in the national team, Tran Minh Vuong of HA Gia Lai is a very promising name.

Minh Vuong has somewhat affirmed his ability in the last two matches of the Vietnam Olympic team at the 2018 Asiad, which were the match against Korea in the semi-finals and the match against UAE to compete for the bronze medal.

Tran Minh Vuong could be the key to the Vietnamese team's attack in the near future.

However, 2 matches are still too few for this player, and he needs a big opportunity, a more rigorous playground than the AFF Cup to officially join the group of great talents of Vietnamese football.

Possessing the same technique as Cong Phuong, speed as Van Toan, and free kick skills that have so far surpassed Xuan Truong, Minh Vuong is a fairly comprehensive attacking player, and has the potential to become the new conductor of Vietnamese football in the near future.

Two other faces worth mentioning are central defenders Nguyen Thanh Chung (Hanoi Club) and Hoang Van Khanh (SL Nghe An), in the context that the Vietnamese team needs more good central defenders, as backup options for the trio Tien Dung, Duy Manh and Dinh Trong.

SLNA's center back Hoang Van Khanh. Photo: File.

Thanh Chung even had an official ticket to the 2018 Asian Games, but unfortunately, an unexpected injury right before the team left for Indonesia forced coach Park Hang Seo to remove him and replace him with Minh Vuong.

Meanwhile, Hoang Van Khanh is showing progress in SL Nghe An's shirt, along with his senior Que Ngoc Hai, helping the Nghe team build a good defense, rising to 3rd place in V-League up to now.

Both Thanh Chung and Hoang Van Khanh have physical advantages (1m80 tall), which can complement the Vietnamese team's ability to counter high balls.