Japan coach Takeshi Okada is hoping striker Naohiro Takahara can rediscover his goalscoring touch as the three-time Asian champions look to get their qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup back on track against Oman on Monday.
Takahara has struggled to adapt to his new surroundings at Urawa Reds since returning to Japan in a high-profile move from Eintracht Frankfurt in January, hitting the target just twice so far this season.
The former Boca Juniors and Hamburg marksman, who has scored 23 times in 57 games for Japan, was left on the bench as replacement Keiji Tamada struck the winner in Saturday's 1-0 defeat of Ivory Coast and he failed to make an impact after coming on in Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Paraguay.