Breaking a long silence, Cho Kyu-sung (26, Midtjylland) has returned to the training ground. The unexpected gap following his knee surgery took nearly a year, but it has been a welcome development for both Midtjylland fans and the South Korean national team.
On the 18th (Korea time), the Danish Superliga club Midtjylland officially announced through their social media that Cho Kyu-sung has joined the preseason training. In the video, Cho Kyu-sung was seen arriving at the training ground, warmly greeting his teammates and engaging in cycling exercises, showing efforts to recover his condition.
Cho Kyu-sung scored 12 goals in 30 matches during the 2023-2024 season, leading Midtjylland to the top of the league. However, he underwent knee surgery right after the end of the season, and subsequent complications significantly delayed his recovery schedule. Originally expected to last a few months, the rehabilitation period kept extending, and he ultimately could not participate in matches for nearly a year.
During this time, Cho Kyu-sung dedicated himself to recovery along with Midtjylland's rehabilitation team, while also taking time to rest and recharge in Barcelona.
Midtjylland's head coach Thomas Thomasberg noted in an interview with Danish media Tipsbladet, "The recovery speed was slower than expected, but there has been consistent improvement," adding, "It is difficult to pinpoint a definitive return date, but positive changes are being observed."
Additionally, the newly appointed sports director Christian Bach Bæk said, "It is hard to say exactly how prepared Cho Kyu-sung is right now, but we really wanted to see him back," and explained, "He has not stopped rehabilitation even during the holidays, and his condition is clearly improving."
Cho Kyu-sung's return is not just an issue for his club. It could also play a significant role for the South Korean national team preparing for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. Recently, in the forward position, players such as Oh Se-hoon, Joo Min-kyu, and Oh Hyun-kyu have been given opportunities in succession, but none have secured a clear first-line position. If Cho Kyu-sung, who possesses both physicality and activity, returns to form, significant changes are expected in the offensive tactics that have been unstable since Paulo Bento's departure.
Even during his time sidelined by injury, Cho Kyu-sung did not hide his desire to return to the fans. In a behind-the-scenes video released by Midtjylland last March, he said, "I miss the fans and the stadium so much. I will be back soon."
Now that promise is becoming a reality. As Cho Kyu-sung returns to the field, there is anticipation over whether he can prove his soccer skills once again on the European stage and whether he can don the Taegeuk mark again and step onto the World Cup finals stage.
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