BRIGHTON, England (AP) 鈥� Japan coach has an anxious wait on the fitness of star forward Kaoru Mitoma before naming a on Friday.
Mitoma limped off with an apparent hamstring injury Saturday in the second half of Brighton鈥檚 3-0 win over Wolverhampton in the Premier League.
One of Japan鈥檚 standout players at the 2022 World Cup, Mitoma scored in a in March at Wembley Stadium.
His World Cup tournament is in doubt five weeks before Japan faces the Netherlands on June 14 in Arlington, Texas.
鈥淚 hope it鈥檚 a minor injury. I was told by staff, 鈥業t doesn鈥檛 seem minor,鈥欌�� Moriyasu was reported telling Japanese media Sunday about Mitoma.
Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler said 鈥渋t looked like a hamstring injury鈥� but the club would await scan to clarify the severity.
Seventh-place Brighton is still in with two rounds left in the Premier League. England could get a record-tying six entries.
Japan鈥檚 World Cup plans are already missing another key forward playing for Monaco in December.
Japan also plays Tunisia on June 20 in Monterrey, Mexico then returns to Texas to play Sweden on June 25. The top two in Group F advance to the round of 32 and the third-place team also could join them.
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