French surgeon Olivier Bringer has predicted that Demba Ba will play football again, despite suffering a broken leg while representing Shanghai Shenhua.
The former Chelsea striker fractured his left tibia in a challenge with Sun Xiang during a derby clash against Shanghai SIPG last weekend.
Head coach Gregorio Manzano feared that the injury was career-ending for Ba, but the surgeon who will operate on him believes that his playing days are not over.
"I'm sure he will be able to recover and play football again," Bringer told Shanghai Daily. "In a few months, he will have the possibility of making a comeback. He is a tough guy and I'm sure he will be able to get over this.
"We are used to such surgeries. My team's done it many times in France."
Ba will have the operation on Saturday.
