Chinese forward Wu Lei is ready to have a knee operation that will leave him out of action for at least two months.

Wu has been nursing a right knee complaint which ruled him out of China's latest two World Cup qualifiers - its 1-0 away win over Bahrain and 3-1 home defeat to Japan in mid-November.

Wu Lei (L) of China controls the ball during an international freindly match between New Zealand and China in Auckland, New Zealand, March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

Wu was also dropped by the Chinese side which is holding a training camp in Haikou, Southern China Hainan province.

He tried a conservative treatment, but it did not work out well.

"The problem will not go away completely without an operation," he told Shanghai local media.

"It's very disturbing. If I don't receive an operation, it will get worse than last year," he said.

Wu said he is discussing with his club Shanghai Port about the surgery plan.

He is expected to be sidelined for at least two months after the surgery, which means he will miss China's next two World Cup qualifiers -- one against Saudi Arabia on March 20, and the other one against Australia five days later.