JAPAN coach Takeshi Okada has called up uncapped defender Kazumichi Takagi of Shimizu S-Pulse ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in Oman and Thailand.
Takagi was brought in to replace injured Yuki Abe of Urawa Reds just a few hours prior to the departure for Muscat.
Abe played in the first match of the Kirin Cup on May 24, a warm-up for this month's four-game qualifying series.
But the Reds defender has been suffering with ankle injuries and has trained separately from the rest of the squad for the last few days.
The 27-year-old Takagi has been a regular defender for his J.League club since 2005, playing in 112 matches for the past three-and-a-half seasons.
Japan defeated Oman 3-0 in Yokohama on Monday and play the return fixture on Saturday before travelling to Bangkok for the June 14 game with Thailand.
Abe played in the first match of the Kirin Cup on May 24, a warm-up for this month's four-game qualifying series.
But the Reds defender has been suffering with ankle injuries and has trained separately from the rest of the squad for the last few days.
The 27-year-old Takagi has been a regular defender for his J.League club since 2005, playing in 112 matches for the past three-and-a-half seasons.
Japan defeated Oman 3-0 in Yokohama on Monday and play the return fixture on Saturday before travelling to Bangkok for the June 14 game with Thailand.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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