Vietnam naturalized striker Xuan Son nears comeback after long injury layoff

By Hieu Luong October 13, 2025 | 06:20 pm PT

Two key players of Vietnam national team, naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son and left-back Doan Van Hau, have entered the final phase of their recovery and are close to an official return.

Xuan Son and Van Hau came on as late substitutions during Nam Dinh FC and Cong An Ha Noi (CAHN)'s training matches on Oct. 11.

Son's Nam Dinh beat PVF-CAND side 1-0, while Hau's CAHN lost 1-6 to Hanoi FC.

Son has been out for 10 months, while Hau has not played for nearly two years.

Both players are following a step-by-step plan for their return, starting with 10–15 minutes at the end of matches and gradually increasing until they can play the full 90 minutes. That progression will continue into competitive matches.

They are also targeting optimal weight for playing: under 90 kg for Son and around 80 kg for Hau. If things go smoothly, both could feature consistently from early 2026.

Nguyen Xuan Son (L) during the match between Nam Dinh FC and PVF-CAND at Thien Truong Stadium, Ninh Binh on Ict. 11, 2025. Photo: Nam Dinh FC

Nguyen Xuan Son (L) during the match between Nam Dinh FC and PVF-CAND at Thien Truong Stadium, Ninh Binh on Oct. 11, 2025. Photo courtesy of Nam Dinh FC

Nam Dinh did not register Son for the first half of the V. League this season despite the possibility of him returning sooner. Coach Vu Hong Viet said he does not want to rush the Brazilian-born striker and prefers a full recovery.

Son, 28, suffered a double fracture in his right leg during the 2024 ASEAN Cup final second leg against Thailand on Jan. 5. He underwent surgery and spent the first half of this year recovering in Vietnam, then continued with specialists in Brazil in July before returning in mid-August.

Despite not playing the full final game, he made a major contribution to Vietnam's championship. He won best player and the golden boot at the tournament, his debut for the Vietnam national team.

His return next year would give coach Kim Sang-sik a major boost in the race with Malaysia in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Doan Van Hau (pink jersey) tries to break past a defender in a training session on Oct. 11, 2025. Photo by CAHN

For Hau, he has been sidelined since winning the 2023 V. League with CAHN, undergoing two Achilles tendon surgeries in 2024. Coach Kim also introduced Hau to a South Korean treatment center during his recovery.

One of the country’s most decorated defenders, Hau has four V. League titles, two National Cup and two Super Cup, and was coach Park Hang-seo’s first choice at left-back across teams, helping Vietnam finish the 2018 U23 AFC Championship as runners-up, and winning the 2018 AFF Cup and 2019 SEA Games gold.