Hwang unlikely to play in upcoming friendlies

Hamburger SV’s Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan appears doubtful for an international call-up next week after suffering an apparent leg injury.

Hwang started for his second-tier German club in a home match against SpVgg Greuther Furth at Volksparkstadion on Monday but went down grabbing the back of his left thigh in the 38th minute. Hwang was taken out of the match. Hamburger went on to win the match 1-0.

Hwang has spent the bulk of 2019 on the shelf. While playing for Korea at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in January, Hwang suffered a groin injury in the round of 16 against Bahrain and missed the rest of the tournament.

Hwang returned to action last month for his German club, but the injury bug bit him again in just his third match back on the field.

The severity of Hwang’s injury wasn’t immediately known, but he appears unlikely to be called up for Korea’s two upcoming friendly matches at home - against Bolivia on March 22 and Colombia four days later.

Hwang, 23, has been a mainstay on the national team’s attack under head coach Paulo Bento, starting in eight of 12 matches.

Bento is scheduled to announce his roster for the friendlies next Monday.

Yonhap