China's four England-based soccer stars have just kicked their final ball in anger and will begin looking forward to next season with one overwhelming feeling: uncertainty.

National team captain Zheng Zhi of Charlton Athletic and midfielder Li Tie of Sheffield United have both experienced the sour taste of relegation and will almost certainly seek pastures new.

Striker Dong Fangzhuo has made a solitary, unimpressive appearance for Manchester United and faces an uphill battle for playing time, while at rivals Manchester City, with the sacking of manager Stuart Pearce and rumors of a takeover swirling, the future of defender Sun Jihai is far from clear.

Li will make a rare appearance when he plays for China today against Thailand in an Asian Cup warm-up. The playmaker who so impressed during his first Premier League stint with Everton has been plagued by injuries the past three seasons, and failed to make a single appearance for Sheffield United.

Some impressive performances in the reserve league have earned him a national team recall, and Li hopes this will be a catalyst for change.

"I hope to get back to my former self by competing in as many matches as possible," he said.

"My future at the club is still not determined but I think as long as I show my ability, I still have a chance in the top European leagues."

One man not short of suitors will be Zheng Zhi.

Considered a gamble when Charlton took him on loan in January, Zheng became a hit with fans thanks to his creativity and quality on the ball.

Fans nominated him as player of the month for March, but with no permanent deal signed and Zheng having spoken of his desire to stay in the Premier League, it appears almost certain that he will be wearing different colors next season.

"Frankly speaking I have no idea about my future," the versatile midfielder told Titan Sports.

"What I can do at the moment is collect all the things here and go back to Shandong Luneng... All I can say is everything in England has come to a full stop.

"I was loaned by Luneng. What I do and where I go next should be decided by the club."

But Zheng also expressed his desire to stay in the top flight.

"Personally, I hope to continue my career in the Premier League. But it's hard to predict. My agent will help deal with the issue with the two clubs.

"I've gained a lot from competing in one of the world's best leagues during the past few months. There are players from all over the world and I had the chance to challenge players with different styles. It's a good experience for me."

"In my opinion, the Premier League is the toughest league in the world," he added.

"I will miss my Charlton days. This experience was the most unforgettable of my life. I still have my dreams and the ability to make those dreams a reality, so I have no regrets."

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