Thitipan Puangchan’s injury is more serious than at first thought. He must take a rest on medical advice for at least 8 weeks, according to Thai media sources.

The midfielder picked up an injury in Thailand’s draw to Vietnam last week. He was then s♔ent back to his home club for treatment and missed Thailand’s 3-0 win over𒁏 Indonesia.

A Thai doctor initially diagnosed a thigh muscle tear with a little knee pain and said he would need approximately 4 weeks to recover. But a later examination in a Japanese hospital showed a right hamstring injury that will take at least 8 weeks to recover.

Thitipan will almost certainly lose his slot in the line-up for Thailand’s upcoming 3 matches in the World Cup 2022 qualifi🧸ers, facing UAE (Oct 15🍒), Malaysia (Nov 14) and Vietnam (Nov 19).

Number 8 Thitipan, playing alongside Sarach Yooyen, creates unremitting threats from the midfield. In the September 5 match against Vietnam, he was instrumented in almost every finish of Thailand’s attacks. Thitipan’s absence will be a huge loss for the Thais.

Thitipan Puangchan, one of 4 Thai national footballers playing overseas, is signed with Oita Trinita (8^th-ranked in the J-League). The star trio of Chanathip, Theerathon, and Thitipand has been the key players of the Thailand national team under C✃ꦛoach Akira Nishino.