Footballasia.com, the continent's leading football website, posted an article Friday reviewing how Asia's leading players have performed in the past five months.

The article says that as 2006 rolls around, Chinese duo Sun Jihai and Li Tie have both made recoveries from serious injuries and will be looking to build on the progress they have already made. Sun has, in recent weeks, fought his way into Manchester City's team. At the same time, Li's injury nightmare at Everton seems to be a thing of the past as proven by several appearances on the Toffees' substitute bench.

The article also mentioned another Chinese player, Du Wei, who has been signed last August by Scottish side Celtic for an initial six-month period.

China international Du Wei has yet to make a first team appearance for the Glasgow giants, it says.

Despite the lack of senior starts, Du has been in impressive form for the club's reserves and it would seem that the 1967 European Cup winners are convinced the tall defender has what it takes to succeed in Europe and will pay Shanghai Shenhua another $1.17 million for the defender's services in January.