South Korea striker Lee Dong-guk is confident of featuring in Saturday's World Cup opener against Greece after making a speedy recovery from a hamstring injury.

The 32-year-old Pohang Steelers striker, who was the top scorer in the K-League last season, was not expected to be available to coach Huh Jung-moo until at least the second Group B outing against Argentina on June 17.

But the former Middlesbrough frontman has made a quicker than expected recovery after suffering the injury last month to hand the Taeguk Warriors a welcome boost.

"I've been exercising normally since arriving in South Africa," he said.

"My condition has improved quickly from steady rehabilitation. If given the opportunity, I want to leave a good impression in the match with Greece."

The injury had looked set to continue Lee's World Cup woes after a knee injury denied him a place in Germany four years ago after being left out of the 2002 squad by Guus Hiddink having made a solitary substitute appearance in France four years earlier.

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