Top striker Le Cong Vinh has joined up with the national team in Hanoi but his chances of taking part in December\'s ASEAN Football Championship, AFF-Suzuki Cup remain unclear.

On the mend: Top striker Le Cong Vinh (centre) trains with physio Luis Alberto (right) and coach Herique Calisto during a national team training session in Hanoi. Vinh is recovering after surgery to his knee.

Vinh, who has returned from Turkey after a four-month break following surgery, is working with physio Luis Alberto in a bid to make a comprehensive recovery in time for the Cup.

The three-time Golden Ball winner has been provisionally called up to the national team but won\'t return to full training until December 14 which marks six months since his surgery.

"I am in a good condition and my recovery is on track. However, it was a serious injury and doctors said I shouldn\'t train for at least six months but I think I may be able to start earlier thanks to advanced medical help," Vinh said.

The 25-year-old is desperate to play in December and hired Alberto with a view to regaining his fitness as soon as possible, making him the first player in Vietnam to have a personal trainer.

Doctor Nguyen Trong Hien of the national team said his chances of playing at the AFF Cup are low although the speed at which he has recovered is positive.

"It is about 40 days to the Cup. Vinh will not have kicked a ball for six months or trained with his national teammates. I don\'t believe he will be able to give his best performance if he tries to play at the Cup," Hien said.

Other well respected doctors also agreed that Vinh will put his career in danger if he tries to return to training to early.

National head coach Henrique Calisto admitted that Vinh is unlikely to play a part at this year\'s competition but said he will wait for Vinh because "he is a very talented player".

"Alberto said I should have a seven-month rest. I am only two thirds of the way through that period so I will definitely not compete in the group phase. I am still expecting a miracle but it will not be easy because I have lost my sense with the ball, the field and my teammates," Vinh said.

Coach Calisto has agreed to follow Alberto\'s treatment plan to ensure the future of Vinh\'s career.

"Missing such a tournament especially when it is being held on home turf is a massive blow. But I believe that my teammates under Calisto will make it to the final. We still have plenty of other players capable of scoring," said Vinh.

Calisto said Vietnam will play as usual without Vinh.

"Vietnam can defend their title without him as we have seen this season with Hanoi T&T who triumphed in the V-League while he was in Turkey," Calisto said.

The AFF Cup finals will be co-hosted by Vietnam and Indonesia from December 1-29. Vietnam are in Group B together with Singapore, Myanmar and the qualifying runners-up.

Two years ago, Viet Nam won the AFF-Suzuki Cup after a 3-2 win in a two-leg final against Thailand.

Since 2002 the AFF Cup has been co-hosted in two countries, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals and final, which is played in a home-and-away format.