With Japan still struggling for firepower with the final World Cup qualification round getting under way against Bahrain on Saturday night, a new wind blowing around Europe could help lighten the load.

A chronic shortage of top-class strikers has long been Japan's Achilles heel, and performances since qualification for South Africa began back in February have not inspired much confidence that the problem will go away soon.

Manager Takeshi Okada has tried various personnel in attack — with varying levels of success — but has largely stuck with the basic formation of two strikers leading the line.