NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Pref. (Kyodo) Former Japan midfielder Hideo Hashimoto will be sidelined for about six months after he was diagnosed with ligament damage in his right knee, his club Gamba Osaka said on Monday.
The 31-year-old Hashimoto has been ruled out for the Asian Champions League from March through May and the first half of the J. League season. Hashimoto injured the knee in a practice in Guam last Thursday and returned to Japan the following day.