National team manager Takeshi Okada has reassured Shunsuke Nakamura that he will form the cornerstone of Japan's 2010 World Cup challenge despite failing to make an impact at Espanyol.
Nakamura has seen limited playing time since moving to Spain in the summer, watching on as an unused substitute as his struggling side lost last weekend's derby match against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Espanyol manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted on Wednesday that Nakamura is struggling to adapt at the club, just days after former Japan boss Philippe Troussier called on Okada to drop the midfielder from the national team.