Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has recalled Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo after an injury lay-off, for the nation's upcoming home 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier against Tajikistan.
But the coach had to drop another key full-back, Schalke's Atsuto Uchida, due to a fresh injury while star playmaker, CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda, remains sidelined having missed the two previous qualifiers with a knee injury.
"Of course, Honda is an important player. But we didn't even have Nagatomo against North Korea and Uzbekistan. We will manage to find a good balance," Zaccheroni said. "It is my job to get the best out of the players available."
Without Honda, who powered Japan to the Round of 16 at last year's FIFA World Cup and a record fourth AFC Asian Cup title in January, the Blue Samurai have lacked inspiration - beating Korea DPR 1-0 and drawing with Uzbekistan 1-1 away.
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