Park Out To Grass For A Year. What Happens Next? …
Does Ji Sung Park’s suspected ruptured cruciate ligament injury raise fresh questions about his long-term future at United?
Sir Alex has confirmed that the player will undergo surgey in America to correct an unspecified knee problem.
“We have not been able to get to the bottom of it, so we have sent him to the best specialist in the world,” said the United manager. “Because there was no clear reason for the injury, we knew it was bad enough for us to be concerned, which is why he has gone to America.Unfortunately, it puts and end to his season.
The 26 year old former PSV Eindhoven winger was injured against Blackburn last month after scoring twice in the 4-1 home victory. Sir Alex’s admission has underscored speculation that the winger may have damaged his cruciate ligament and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“It seems to be serious and it looks like he will miss the rest of the season,” Park’s agent Chiei Dekker said. “He is disappointed to be out injured and it has come as something of a shock to him as he didn’t think it was serious when he first sustained the injury against Blackburn. We are now waiting to find out the full extent of the injury.”
It is likely that the South Korean international will not return until midway through the 2008 campaign. Park will be treated by top American specialist Dr Richard Steadman, who has helped other notable victims of the cruciate ligament scourge such as Jamie Redknapp, Lothar Matthaus, cricketer Michael Vaughan, Martina Navratilova, Alan Shearer and Michael Owen. The Mail newspaper describes the 69 year old specialist surgeon’s clinic in Vail, Colorado as “the holy grail for sports stars with serious knee injuries.” Park could not be in better hands. On a wall of Dr Steadman’s clinic is a signed shirt from a Ruud van Nistelrooy with the message: ‘To Steady — thanks for giving me back my dream.’
The winger is the latest United player to succumb to the injury contagion now sweeping through Old Trafford, reducing still further Sir Alex’s options as the season reaches its climax. It is also more bad news for Park who must wonder now about his chances of a successful long term Red career.
Park’s enthusiasm upon joining United in 2005, augured well for the future and challenged the popular perception that his signature was driven mostly by United’s wish for commercial dominance in Asia.
“I’m confident I can prove myself at one of the world’s top clubs,” he said, as the ink dried on his £4.5 million transfer. “I will prove that Koreans can play at that level. I want to show my value to United in terms of my ability, not for some marketing strategy for Asia. I’m not going to England for business.”
Guus Hiddink, then PSV’s manager, agreed reluctantly to the deal but warned the player his United sojourn would end in tears.
“Park will be a waste of time at Manchester,” Hiddink declared. “He will spend most of his time on the bench. It was not a wise decision for him to go. The Brazilian midfielder Kleberson is a good example for Park. He went to United and was a failure. Park should have stayed with PSV for another year.”
The winger’s first two years at United saw Hiddink’s stock as a futurologist soar, as Park suffered from erratic form and injury. The winger had difficulty achieving the consistency required of United players. Worse, he was unable to make the impact his fearless wing warrior performances for PSV suggested. Yes, ‘Three Lung Park’ was industrious and brought to United energy and a good attitude. However, he compared unfavourably to Ryan Giggs, the man he had been earmarked to replace, both as a goalscorer and as creator of chances. A first season which delivered just two goals from 33 games, added more than a hint of truth to the gag that Park would only score if the goal was widened by 10 yards either side and FIFA introduced a new rule insisting that goalkeepers had to be midget-sized.
Both Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra have demonstrated the folly of rushing to judgement on foreign players who struggle initially to adapt to the speed and rigours of English football. Park’s commitment and endeavour encourage guarded optimism that he might have what it takes to succeed at United. The fact that he has made it so far from a footballing backwater also confirms a gritty ‘United’ character.
Yet Park has signed a four year deal. Will he be afforded the time needed to complete his transition and become an effective Premiership footballer with the club?
The South Korean’s sophomore year was always likely to be piviotal in his development. United players are rarely given more than two terms to make a distinct impression. Park’s tally so far - 5 goals in 15 games - testifies to an improved goal radar if nothing else. However, Giggs’ Indian summer and the serious ankle injury Park sustained in a brief appearance against Spurs last September, meant three months out of the first team picture, when the player was desperate to stake a claim.
Park returned in the Spring with a new goal poacher’s instinct, as shown in the matches against Blackburn and Bolton, only for injury to remove him again, this time for an even longer period after only a handful of appearances. Repeat bad luck of this nature demands a priest experienced in exorcism!
The ruthlessness of football is such that Sir Alex is likely to continue his efforts to bolster United’s flank positions with or without Park. Rumours persist that United are looking at Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Bentley plus the gifted Frenchman Franck Ribery, as they step up the search for a player who can dovetail with Cristiano Ronaldo to the same devastating effect as the ageing Giggs.
All fans will wish the winger a speedy return to first team football. But with United set for a management change, it is open to question whether Park’s post- injury future lies at Old Trafford under Sir Alex or his successor.
