JAKARTA - Japan summoned Shuto Machino for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, replacing England side player Yuta Nakayama who is still injured.
Machino, who now plays for Japanese club Shonan Bellmare, has scored 13 goals and is in second place in the top scorer of Liga J this season.
The 23-year-old has scored four goals in his last three games to keep Shonan out of relegation.
"I bring pride and responsibility for having the opportunity to represent and fight for Japan in Qatar," Machino said after receiving the news, quoted by Antara from Kyodo, Wednesday.
Machino was first summoned to the national team by manager Hajime Moriyasu in July at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Championships, where he scored three goals in various matches.
Machino, who was the forward, also appeared in the second half when Japan won 2-0 over the United States in a friendly on September 23 in Germany.
Ahead of his departure to Qatar on Monday night, Moriyasu said Nakayama's replacement was not necessarily a defender.
Nakayama missed this season due to an Achilles tendon injury suffered last Wednesday when Huddersfield lost 0-2 at home to Sunderland in England's second division competition.
Fronter Vissel Kobe Yuya Osako, who was surprisingly expelled from Japan's early squad of 26 players, said after Saturday's final J-League season game that he refused to be reconsidered among the reserve squad members.
Japan will play Germany, Costa Rica and Spain in Group E of the World Cup.
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