German-based striker Naohiro Takahara, who picked up a hamstring injury in a league game Saturday, is doubtful for Japan's upcoming World Cup qualifier away to Bahrain, national team officials said Tuesday.
Junichi Inamoto (right), Akira Kaji (center) and Tsuneyasu Miyamoto take part in a practicesession in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, on Tuesday, ahead of Japan's Kirin Cup match against the
United Arab Emirates on Friday.
Takahara was examined at a hospital in Chiba Prefecture on Tuesday after finishing his Bundesliga schedule with Hamburg SV with a 1-0 defeat at VfL Bochum, in which the injury forced him to leave the pitch early in the second half.
Tuesday's tests confirmed the hamstring injury, which will delay his joining the national squad, originally scheduled for Wednesday.
Japan Football Association President Saburo Kawabuchi said later in the day that Japan coach Zico is considering calling up striker Atsushi Yanagisawa of Italian club Messina following the injuries to Takahara and Kashiwa Reysol forward Keiji Tamada, who hurt his ankle during Sunday's game against Peru.
Japan, which lost 1-0 to Peru in Niigata, play the United Arab Emirates in Tokyo on Friday in its final warmup for its qualifiers in Manama on June 3 and in Bangkok against North Korea five days later.