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United have long-haul plan to tackle Park knee problem

Simon Stone
Wednesday 09 December 2009 01:00 GMT
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Manchester United are considering making special arrangements for Park Ji-sung to travel back from international games in South Korea.

Asia's No 1 player is fit again and was part of the United squad for last night's Champions League encounter at the German champions Wolfsburg. However, the 28-year-old's progress has been restricted by a knee injury that kept him out for two months and limited him to just two Premier League starts this term. United's medical staff have traced the problems back to the time he spends jetting back from matches in Asia, noting that his knee is always swollen following the long flights.

Aside from the player being provided with additional comfort, or not going at all, it is difficult to know what United could do to solve the problem. "We are thinking of organising his return trips differently in the future," confirmed United's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. "Park has had a succession of injuries which have derailed him, but all the problems arise out of him coming back after he has played internationals. We have had meetings with the South Korean physio department trying to get to the bottom of the problem because he always comes back with some swelling in his knee."

That issue, confirmed Ferguson, is the sole reason why Park has not featured so often in United's first-team plans this season. Handing him a two-year contract extension earlier this year was proof Ferguson has faith in the £2m bargain signing from PSV.

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