Injured midfielder replaced ahead of friendlies

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korean midfielder Koh Myong-jin was taken off the national team on Thursday because of an injury.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said that Koh, who plays for the Qatari club Al-Rayyan, won't be available in the friendly matches against Spain and the Czech Republic next month after injuring his right foot.

Koh last played for South Korea against Thailand on March 27 this year, his first international appearance since November 2013. The 28-year-old has three caps to his credit.

South Korea, 54th in FIFA world rankings, will take on No. 6 Spain on June 1 in Salzburg, Austria, and face the No. 29 Czech Republic on June 5 in Prague. These two matches are designed to help South Korea prepare for the final Asian World Cup qualifying tournament starting in September.

The KFA said that FC Seoul midfielder Ju Se-jong will take Koh's place on head coach Uli Stielike's 20-man roster unveiled on Monday.

Ju, 25, made his national team debut last year and has played three matches for South Korea. The former Busan IPark player, who can play as both an attacking and defensive midfielder, also featured in the friendly against Thailand. He has yet to score a goal for the Taeguk Warriors.

Ju has been impressive for FC Seoul this season after joining the club in January. He has two goals and an assist in 10 matches in the top-tier K League Classic, where Seoul are in first place with seven wins, a draw and two losses.

Ju played 115 minutes in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League round of 16 match on Wednesday, as Seoul beat the Urawa Red Diamonds in a penalty shootout to advance to the quarterfinals.

kdon@yna.co.kr
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