Football: Kagawa out of Oman qualifier

TOKYO: Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa has been ruled out of Japan’s World Cup qualifier in Oman on November 14 due to a knee injury he suffered a week ago, the Japan Football Association said yesterday. Kagawa was not among the 18 Europe-based players who coach Alberto Zaccheroni planned to call up for his 23-man squad for the Oman game, said the association. He was injured in Manchester United’s 3-2 Champions League win over Braga on October 23. Kagawa will miss the top-of-the-table Premiership game with Chelsea on Sunday as his club wanted him to be out for four weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2012.