International recall for Inamoto

Last updated : 14 March 2005 By Michael Morris
The midfielder is due to play his last game for City on Saturday for Crewe.

He came to City looking for first team football in a bid to regain fitness after injury and to get his place back in the international set up.

Japan boss Zico overlooked him for the international fixtures last month, City had pleaded to keep him in the UK and his non selection suited the Bluebirds.

Now after playing consistently for City he has earned his recall for the World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Bahrain later this month.

Lennie has stressed that he would love to sign Inamoto on a permanent basis but the cash problems at Ninian park look to have scuppered that possibility.

Unless we hear different his three month loan spell ends after Saturdays crucial game against Crewe.

The full Japanese squad is

Goalkeepers - Yoichi Doi (FC Tokyo), Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus Eight), Hitoshi Sogahata (Kashima Antlers)

Defenders - Atsuhiro Miura (Vissel Kobe), Makoto Tanaka(Jubilo Iwata), Takayuki Chano (Jubilo Iwata), Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (Gamba Osaka), Naoki Matsuda (Yokohama F-Marinos), Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F-Marinos), Alex (Urawa Reds), Keisuke Tsuboi (Urawa Reds),Akira Kaji (FC Tokyo)

Midfielders - Toshiya Fujita (Jubilo Iwata), Takashi Fukunishi (Jubilo Iwata), Hidetoshi Nakata (Fiorentina, Italy), Shunsuke Nakamura (Reggina, Italy), Mitsuo Ogasawara (Kashima Antlers), Masashi Motoyama (Kashima Antlers), Koji Nakata Olympique Marseille, France), Junichi Inamoto (Cardiff City,Wales), Shinji Ono (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka)

Forwards - Takayuki Suzuki (Kashima Antlers), Naohiro Takahara (Hamburg SV, Germany), Keiji Tamada (Kashiwa Reysol), Masashi Oguro (Gamba Osaka).