Gamba Osaka midfielder Junichi Inamoto has injured ligaments in his left knee and will miss Wednesday's international friendly against South Korea, officials of the J. League first division club said Monday.
His place in the Japan squad will be taken by Teruyoshi Ito of Shimizu S-Pulse. Inamoto, who was hurt in Gamba's Emperor's Cup fourth-round tie against Kashiwa Reysol, is expected to be out of action for three to four weeks.
Meanwhile, the South Korean squad for Wednesday's end-of-term fixture at Tokyo's National Stadium will feature five players currently earning their crust in the J. League, South Korean officials announced.
Kashiwa defender Hong Myung Bo and midfielders Yoo Sang Chul (Yokohama), Yoon Jong Hwan (Osaka C), Choi Sung Yong (Kobe) and Park Ji Sung (Kyoto) have all been named in South Korea's 23-man squad.
However, new South Korean manager Guus Hiddink, who officially signed a contract Monday, will not be on the bench. The Dutchman will be among the crowd taking notes, according to the officials in Seoul.