Kaoru Mitoma: Injured Japan winger left out of 26-man World Cup squad

On Thursday, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said the club “will have to be really patient” with Mitoma’s injury, adding “we can’t give a clear timetable” on when he will be fit again.

The expanded 48-team World Cup begins on June 11 and is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Totally Japan:

Goalkeeper: Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Ant), Keisuke Osako (Sunfresh Hiroshima), Aya Suzuka (Parma Calcio).

Defender: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre AC), Yukinari Sugawenko (Jukinari Sugatomenno), Jukinari Sugayen (Cookin).

Midfielder: Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Junia Ito (Genk), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Koki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Kaishu Sano (Mainz Qed) (Mainz Suede)

Forward: Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims), Ito Suzuki (SC Freiburg), Kento Shiode (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden).