Park Ji-Sung hopes for injury free season

Manchester United winger Park Ji-Sung headed to England on Sunday saying he hoped to recover from knee trouble and to avoid any more injuries ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

The 27-year-old South Korean had to miss last month's World Cup qualifiers against Turkmenistan and North Korea because of “discomfort” in his knee and was left out of the team list for the Beijing Olympics.

“I had a good rest,” Park was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency before leaving Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.

“Many chances will come along during the coming year. What's important is how I grab those chances,” he said.

“It's most important that I show all I can on the pitch.”

Until injury hit, Park since May had helped bring South Korea to the final phase of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

The former PSV Eindhoven star first injured the cruciate ligament in his knee during a league win against Blackburn at Old Trafford in March 2007.

He had to undergo career-saving surgery in the United States during the close season and only returned to action in January after a nine-month hiatus.

“It's crucial that I spend the coming season without any injury,” he said, adding a medical test on his knee awaits him in England.

“Training will be scheduled according to the test result,” he said.

Manchester United are currently in South Africa for a pre season workout ahead of next month's start of the 2008-2009 Premier League, he said.

Park has played for the English football club since 2005.