The latest news from Niu Zhiming reporter revealed that Taishan's foreign aid Zeca needs at least two weeks to heal and recuperate. A miraculous appearance in the AFC Champions League play-offs would undoubtedly be a boon to the team.
Zeca has faced a lot of tests since his injury early in winter training. The first task is to rebuild his body, as he had almost zero fitness during his injury layoff. Returning to the field will not only require a return to fitness, but also a strengthening of his reserves, which is directly linked to his future playing time.
The second challenge lies in opposition training. Currently Zeca is only able to train individually under the supervision of the team doctor, and in the future he will need to be integrated into the team's training sessions in order to recover more quickly. The pressure of playing against each other is much higher than that of training, and Zeca will need to be well prepared.
The third difficulty is mental conditioning. The first time suffered a serious injury Zeca, the mindset adjustment is crucial. As the core of the Taishan team, he will face the opponent's tight defense, need to be prepared mentally in advance, to adapt to the new environment, in order to play the best.
In the first three rounds of the Chinese Super League, Zeca is less likely to play. The coaching team will decide the timing of his appearance based on his recovery status. If Zeca can play in the AFC Champions League play-offs, it will boost the team's morale. Even if he plays as a substitute, he can bring new variables to the team's tactics.
Coach Choi Kang-hee may give an initial answer as to when Zeca will return in his pre-match conference against Henan.
