Unlike Sun, Zheng Zhi did not play in his club's weekend match, the season's final game, and there are doubts if Zheng will return to Charlton next season after the club failed to get promoted.
Zhengzhi at a training session in this March 25, 2008 file photo. [Xinhua] |
Dubbed "ZZ" by media and fans, Zheng, 27, is highly regarded by his teammates and coaches for his inspirational midfield play.
He started 38 times for the club in the league and scored seven goals, as well as six assists. He also scored twice in the League Cup and FA Cup, making him the second leading goal-scorer and top assist-provider for the team.
He signed a two-year contract at The Valley after completing his 2 million pounds ($4 million) move from Shandong Luneng in China last August.
Club manager Alan Pardew has repeatedly expressed his hope that Zheng would stay at the club and inspire the team to move back into the top flight again.
Pardew admited the China international was overused in the latter part of the season and is now in need of a rest, although that can only realistically happen once the midfielder has represented his country at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
"I think the season caught up with him a little bit," Pardew said. "He was such a massive player for us for most of the season but in the last third he found it really tough going.
"Without being too critical of him, because he's a great player, he just got tired. Perhaps I should have rested him more - in hindsight I would have done. But I wanted to pick him because he was one of my better players.
"He has a very long program in the summer again and this boy is desperate for some rest. I will make sure he gets plenty of rest after the Olympics and comes back a stronger player."
Zheng flew back and forth between England and China in February and March, for two of China's World Cup Asian Zone Qualifier matches and he will have to play four more from June, before playing another four Olympic group matches in Beijing Games in August.
Though rumors about Zheng's future are rife, Pardew's remarks show there is hope Zheng may stay at the club next season.
