HÀ NỘI – FLC Thanh Hóa received good news on the injury front ahead of their match with Quảng Nam in the V.League this weekend.

Thanh Hóa are second in the table with nine points and with a game in hand over the other teams at the top.

The team have been training in Đà Nẵng, a city close to Quảng Nam, for several days to prepare for the hot weather of the central region.

Midfielders Nguyễn Van Bakel and Đào Văn Phong have both recovered from the injuries they suffered in last week’s National Cup game.

Coach Hoàng Thanh Tùng also has strikers Pape Omar Faye and Ivan Firer available for selection, who have scored seven goals between them in the league this season.

The team have huge incentive to win away fixtures, with a bonus of VNĐ600 million (US$27,000) for each win away from home.

QNK Quảng Nam on the other hand are second from bottom in the table, but have been difficult to play against at home.

“Our biggest problem is scoring. My players created a lot of chances but failed to score while foreign strikers Ogbuke Felix Onyedike and Suleiman Abdullabi have not adapted to the league yet,” said coach Hoàng Văn Phúc, adding that they needed a little more time.

Phúc said a win over Huế FC in the first round of the National Cup last week was a good warm up for his players after a three-week from league matches.

“Thanh Hóa are a powerful team who have won three out of four matches. We have studied them very well and have plans to deal with them,” said Phúc.

The other high-profile match this weekend is between Becamex Bình Dương and Hà Nội T&T.

Bình Dương are in good form after their shock win over Jeonbuk Huyndai Motors in the Asian Champions League on April 6.

Bình Dương will be without three-time Golden Ball winner Lê Công Vinh against the capital side due to injury.

The hosts also have an extensive injury list coming into the game against the defending champions.

Midfielders Dương Thanh Hào and Nguyễn Văn Biển have missed games due to injury, forcing Hà Nội T&T to play without their best line-up.

National team midfielder Đỗ Duy Mạnh is also absent with a hand injury as is Nguyễn Văn Quyết who has been banned for five matches for pushing referee Hoàng Phạm Công Khanh in the fourth match of the national premier league.

Coach Chu Đình Nghiêm will also make his debut this weekend after replacing the inexperienced Phạm Minh Đức last month. Hà Nội T&T are second from bottom of the table with only one point.

The last time the two sides met in the final of the National Super Cup, Bình Dương won 2-0.

Elsewhere, table toppers Hải Phòng play Hoàng Anh Gia Lai; Quảng Ninh Coal visit SHB Đà Nẵng; Sông Lam Nghệ An host Sài Gòn FC; Sanna Khánh Hòa entertain Long An; and Cần Thơ meet Đồng Tháp. -- VNS