Ao Tanaka received a call-up to Japan’s national team this FIFA international window. Still, Leeds United supporters will be holding their breath to see if the midfielder can be ready to go after playing on Tuesday and making the long trip back to England.
Japan’s last game of the window will come against Australia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match at Saitama Stadium 2002. The Samurai Blue are coming off an impressive 2-0 road win over Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
With Wataru Endo likely to miss the game, Tanaka has the opportunity to step in and play a key role in Japan’s midfield for their biggest test yet in qualifying.
Should Tanaka start, it means the player will be off playing a match and making the trip back to Leeds, but how long will it take for him to get back to the city and how tight is the window to ensure he’s ready for Friday night’s clash against Sheffield United.
Ao Tanaka faces a tight window in return to Leeds
Leeds All Over points out that Tanaka is just one of several fitness concerns for Leeds as they prepare for another key match against a promotion contender. With only 72 hours between his international duty and the Friday evening game, the quick turnaround is challenging.
Tanaka, who played in Saitama, faces a 16-hour flight back to Leeds from Japan, leaving him with little time to join the team’s training before the match at Elland Road.
In addition to Tanaka, Junior Firpo and Brenden Aaronson are also playing outside of Europe for their international duties. Meanwhile, three other players will be in action across Europe on Tuesday.
Should the Japanese player not be fit and ready for the Sheffield match, it would be a major blow to Leeds, considering the Whites’ thinning depth in the midfield.
If Tanaka isn’t fit it will be interesting to see how manager Daniel Farke puts together his starting 11. Nonetheless, if Tanaka does come from Japan with no training session for this match and starts and performs well, it will be a performance that many Leeds supporters will applaud.
