Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma ruled out of World Cup qualifying
Japan suffered a blow on the eve of World Cup qualifying as Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma has been ruled out with injury, the football association announced on Wednesday.
Exciting attacker misses out
The 26-year-old, who has scored seven goals in 18 appearances for his country, emerged as one of the most exciting attackers in the Premier League.
Setback for Japan
Coach Hajime Moriyasu must now prepare the team to begin the long road to the 2026 World Cup without Mitoma. The team’s first match at home to Myanmar on Thursday, followed by Syria on Tuesday in Jeddah, will be daunting without one of their key players.
Mystery injury
The Japan Football Association did not disclose the nature of Mitoma’s injury, leaving fans and teammates in suspense.
Statement from Mitoma
In a statement released by the JFA, Mitoma expressed his disappointment at not being able to contribute at his full potential. “Since this is a World Cup qualifier, I joined the team believing in my potential to contribute,” Mitoma said. “But unfortunately, seeing as I won’t be able to play at 100 percent, I’ve decided to let my teammates play on my behalf, as much as I regret doing so.”
“For now, I will work hard on recovering as soon as possible,” he added.
Recovery and future prospects
Mitoma, who came on as a second-half substitute in Brighton’s recent game, is now focused on making a swift recovery to get back on the field and continue making an impact for both club and country.
Conclusion
The absence of Kaoru Mitoma will undoubtedly be felt by the Japanese team, but it also presents an opportunity for other players to step up and showcase their skills on the international stage. The football world eagerly awaits Mitoma’s return and wishes him a speedy recovery.