Cao Yunding, one of the key players for Shanghai Shenhua, has suffered a setback in his recovery from an injury. The Chinese Super League club announced on their official website that Cao will be out for at least two weeks due to a recurrence of the injury he sustained during the opening round of the season.

The 29-year-old forward was forced off during a match against Tianjin TEDA in early June after suffering what appeared to be a serious leg injury. Despite receiving treatment and undergoing scans, it was later revealed that the injury was more severe than initially thought, and required further medical attention.

Cao's absence is a significant blow for Shanghai Shenhua, who were already struggling with injuries before this latest setback. The team has been without key defenders such as Zhang Zhaohui and Sun Jinhong for much of the season, and now they face even more adversity with Cao out.

Shanghai Shenhua will hope that Cao's return to full fitness is not too far away, but for now, the club must turn to other options in their attack. With Cao's absence, the likes of Wu Jingyu and Li Wei have stepped up to fill the gap, but both players have struggled to make an impact in recent matches.

As the league progresses, the importance of having key players like Cao available cannot be overstated. It remains to be seen how long he will be out for, and whether or not Shanghai Shenhua can overcome the challenges ahead if they lose him to injury again.

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