Soccer-South Korea rocked by fresh injury blow

SEOUL, June 19 (Reuters)- South Korea's Asian Cup preparations suffered another devastating blow today when vastly experienced midfielder Kim Nam-il was ruled out with a groin injury.

Kim, who anchored Korea's midfield during the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, will require surgery to cure the problem -- knows as a sports hernia -- said Lee Ho-seung, general manager at Kim's K-League side Suwon.

South Korea have already lost their top three players through injury and their main striker is also a serious doubt for the July 7-29 tournament.

''It's going to be impossible for him to play (at the Asian Cup) because it will take him up to two months to recover,'' Lee told Reuters by telephone.

''He himself has said the pain is hard to bear so he has to have surgery soon.'' South Korea, who are grouped with Indonesia, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in Group D, will be without Park Ji-sung (Manchester United), Lee Young-pyo (Tottenham Hotspur) and Seol Ki-hyeon (Reading FC) as they recover from recent surgery.

Coach Pim Verbeek is also gambling with the fitness of striker Lee Dong-guk, who has failed to shake off a knee injury picked up on the last day of the season with Middlesbrough in England's Premier League.

REUTERS TB VC1225