Injured English Premier League winger Kaoru Mitoma was left out of Japan’s World Cup squad on Friday in a major blow to their chances of progressing beyond the last 16 for the first time.

The 28-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during Brighton’s 3-0 win over Wolves in the EPL last weekend.

“The medical team assessed that it would be difficult for him to get back to fitness during the tournament,” coach Hajime Moriyasu said in naming his squad in Tokyo.

Monaco forward Takumi Minamino also missed out after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in late December.

Moriyasu, who will be leading the team into his second World Cup as coach, said selecting the squad had been tough.

“There are still many ⁠players who have the ability to compete and win on the world stage for Japan,” he said.