Japan Call On Kaoru Mitoma To Help Erase Asian Cup 'Frustration'

Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma was named in Japan's Asian Cup squad on Monday despite an ankle injury, as coach Hajime Moriyasu looks to erase the "frustration" of their 2019 final defeat. Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi said last week that Mitoma would be out for up to six weeks after hurting his ankle in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on December 21. But Moriyasu still included the player in his 26-man squad for the Asian Cup in Qatar, which kicks off on January 12. "Given his current injury situation, I don't know if he will be ready to play in the first game or not," Moriyasu said of the 26-year-old. "But I have been told by the national team medical staff and his club medical staff that I will be able to use him early in the tournament when he comes back from injury."

Japan warmed up for the Asian Cup with a 5-0 friendly win over Thailand in Tokyo in front of a New Year's Day crowd of over 60,000.

They have won the Asian Cup a record four times but they lost 3-1 to Qatar in the final of the 2019 tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

Moriyasu said his "fundamental approach hasn't changed" over the past five years but he is determined to lift the trophy this time.

"One thing that hasn't changed from the last time is that we will take each game as it comes and prepare as best we can, as we always do," he said.

"The thing that has changed is that we have frustration from not winning the last time."

Moriyasu named Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu in his Asian Cup squad, along with Real Sociedad attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo.

Celtic's Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate made the cut but club-mate Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored against Rangers on Saturday, was not selected.

Lazio's Daichi