South Korea striker Lee Dong-guk is confident of featuring in Saturday's World Cup opener against Greece after making a speedy recovery from a hamstring injury.
The 32-year-old Pohang Steelers striker, who was the top scorer in the K-League last season, was not expected to be available to coach Huh Jung-moo until at least the second Group B outing against Argentina on June 17. But the former Middlesbrough frontman has made a quicker than expected recovery after suffering the injury last month to hand the Taeguk Warriors a welcome boost.
"I've been exercising normally since arriving in South Africa," he said.
Lee continued: "My condition has improved quickly from steady rehabilitation. If given the opportunity, I want to leave a good impression in the match with Greece."
The injury had looked set to continue Lee's World Cup woes. A knee injury denied him a place in Germany four years ago and he was left out of the 2002 squad by Guus Hiddink having made a solitary substitute appearance in the 1998 tournament in France.
Source: PA
