Goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima believes he has repaid his manager's faith after returning from the international wilderness to steer Japan closer to a sixth straight World Cup appearance with two clean sheets in two qualifying wins.
Two-time World Cup veteran Kawashima lost his place in Japan's starting lineup to Urawa Reds' Shusaku Nishikawa in the summer of 2015 after finding himself without a club for several months, and went on to appear only once for his country until manager Vahid Halilhodzic handed him a shock recall for last Thursday's World Cup qualifier away to the United Arab Emirates.
An impressive performance in that 2-0 win earned Kawashima another start in Tuesday's home game against Thailand, and the 34-year-old did not disappoint, keeping another clean sheet in Japan's 4-0 win and saving a late penalty into the bargain.