The Dutch-born South African international, who played for the country at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt, joined South Korean club Jeonbuk Motors in January but after one substitute appearance in the Asian Champions League in February went into quarantine as football in Korea shut down when the country was hit by the coronavirus.

But after an effective campaign to halt the spread of the deadly virus, the Koreans got their league underway at the weekend, two months behind schedule, amid worldwide interest.

Veldwijk was expected to make his league debut as champions Jeonbuk Hyundai opened the new season on Friday but a knee injury means he will have to wait a little longer.

The 28-year-old striker missed the 1-0 win over Suwon Bluewings after his knee swelled up with fluid. “I trained super hard for four months and have never been this fit and then three days before the competition starts, my knee swells up with fluid. We did an MRI scan and are now doing all we can to get on the field and avoid having to undergo an operation,” he said.