The 31-year-old, who now plays for Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos, was replaced midway through the second half of the 2-0 home defeat to South Korea on Monday and was struggling with a sore ankle during training yesterday.

"Shunsuke needs a bit more time to get back to his best condition and I am not sure if he can play," coach Takeshi Okada said, according to Kyodo News.

Tomorrow's game against England is Japan's penultimate warm-up match prior to the start of the World Cup, where the Blue Samurai have been drawn in Group E alongside Holland, Denmark and Cameroon.

The three-time Asian champions are desperate for a positive result against Fabio Capello's side having lost three of their last four home games.