World Cup midfielder Yasuhito Endo will miss Gamba Osaka's Nabisco Cup quarterfinal first leg against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Wednesday because of a sore calf, it was announced on Tuesday.
Endo hurt his left calf in Sunday's 2-0 win over Jubilo Iwata in the J. League, forcing manager Akira Nishino to pull him out of the clash with Sanfrecce at Big Arch.
Endo will join with his Japan teammates Thursday for the upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Guatemala, though the 30-year-old Asian Player of the Year describes himself as doubtful for Saturday's game against Paraguay in Yokohama.
"I'm not fully fit but I want to be there, just to be involved," said Endo. "I'm not going to force it, but I want to gradually pick things up through training."
Kennedy sidelined
NAGOYA (Kyodo) Nagoya Grampus striker Josh Kennedy has pulled out of the Australia squad for their upcoming away friendlies against Switzerland and Poland, the J. League first-division club said Tuesday.
Kennedy, the leading scorer in the J. League with 11 goals this seasons, had been named in the Socceroos squad for their first games under former Urawa Reds manager Holger Osieck, but the 28-year-old, according to Nagoya, has pulled out of the long-haul trip to Europe to avoid aggravating a lower back injury.
The Socceroos, who failed to advance past the group stage at the World Cup finals in South Africa, play Switzerland in St. Gallen on Friday before meeting Poland in Krakow next Tuesday.