“The problem will not go away completely without an operation,” Wu Lei said. “It’s very disturbing. If I don’t receive an operation it will get worse than last year.”

The surgery would sideline the striker for at least two months, ruling him out of Shanghai Port’s AFC Champions League Elite meetings with Vissel Kobe on February 11 and Yokohama F Marinos eight days later as Kevin Muscat’s side chase a place in the knockout rounds.

Shanghai Port are currently seventh in the eastern league standings with the top eight advancing to the Round of 16.

Wu Lei will also miss China PR’s qualifiers against Saudi Arabia on March 20 and Australia five days later as Branko Ivankovic’s team attempt to secure an automatic berth at the FIFA World Cup in North America in 2026.

The Chinese are bottom of Group C but, with six points, are only one point adrift of second placed Australia, with the top two finishers advancing directly to the finals.