Jubilo Iwata this week revealed details of striker Koki Ogawa’s injury, which occurred during the recent 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The 19-year-old suffered from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament as well as a torn meniscus in the same knee early in Japan’s 2-0 loss to Uruguay in the second match of the group stage.
The news is a blow to Ogawa’s development given he is expected to need at least six months before he can return to training.
In what had the makings of a breakthrough season, the starlet had racked up five MEIJI YASUDA J1 League appearances as well as four goals in five J.League YBC Levain Cup appearances prior to the injury.