YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) Yokohama F. Marinos captain Shunsuke Nakamura will miss next week's J. League season opener against champions Nagoya Grampus after the former Japan midfielder suffered an injury to his left hamstring.
Marinos announced on Wednesday that Nakamura will be out for the next three to four weeks after picking up the injury during training a day earlier.
The setback is just the latest for the 32-year-old Nakamura, who is trying to resurrect his career after a forgettable World Cup year in which he was limited to one substitute appearance at South Africa.
The club may also be without two-time World Cup defender Yuji Nakazawa, who also limped off the pitch during training Tuesday citing pain in his right hamstring.
Marinos finished eighth in the league standings last season, 21 points out of first place in their first year under coach Kazushi Kimura.