The recent slump of Manchester United could hurt Park Ji-sung's candidacy for the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year.

Despite flashes of brilliance, right wing Park has yet to score a goal and was cited for below par play in last week's 4-1 debacle at Middlesbrough.

The Daily Telegraph of London has called Park one of the team's underachievers, saying he has an obvious appetite for work but is no Ryan Giggs.

Other candidates include 2003 winner Iranian Mehdi Mahdavikia of Germany's Hamburg, who scored last weekend to boost his chances, and fellow compatriot and last year's winner Ali Karimi of Bayern Munich.

Park's national teammate Lee Young-pyo is also a contender, having had a solid game for Tottenham in Saturday's 1-1 tie with Arsenal.

No South Korean has won the AFC award.