Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic recalled Mainz striker Yoshinori Muto on Thursday as he named a 24-man squad for the upcoming Asian final-round World Cup qualifiers against United Arab Emirates and Thailand.
Muto returns after a lengthy spell sidelined with an injury, joining a strong squad that features AC Milan attacker Keisuke Honda, Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa and Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki.
The squad also includes Arsenal striker Takuma Asano and Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Ryota Oshima, who both played for Japan's Under-23s at the just-concluded Rio Olympics.