Celtic star Reo Hatate's World Cup dream is in danger after he was left out of Japan's squad for the third time in a row.
The Hoops midfielder is fit again after a hamstring strain that caused him to miss the weekend draw with Hibs.
But there's again no place for him in the Japanese squad, which faces Brazil and Paraguay in the Kirin Challenge Cup later this month.
Hatate missed the international break in June, although he was injured at the end of last season with a knee injury.
But he's since been omitted for Japan's games in July and September by manager Hajime Moriyasu and now faces a sweat ahead of next year's World Cup Finals.
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Hatate won the last of his 11 caps against Saudi Arabia in March for a World Cup qualifier. Japan were the first nation to clinch their qualification for the Finals.
Unsettled Celtic ace Daizen Maeda was named in the squad for the two games in Suita and Chofu. They also face Australia and Bolivia next month.
