Shinji Kagawa - Japan's World Cup 2014 midfield maestro unravelled
SHINJI KAGAWA - JAPAN
AGE: 25, CAPS/GOALS: 54/17
Shinji Kagawa is heading to the World Cup with Alberto Zaccheroni and the Japan squad.
Here, Sportsmail takes a closer look at the Manchester United midfielder.
VIDEO: Scroll down to see Shinji Kagawa score for Japan against Costa Rica
Focus: Shinji Kagawa will be desperate to impress at the World Cup after a disappointing season with Man Utd
Hub: Kagawa will be the key creative influence in Japan's technically gifted midfield outfit
END OF TERM REPORT: It wasn’t a great year for Kagawa. The attacking midfielder rarely looked on David Moyes’ list of priorities at Old Trafford, and often played second fiddle to the likes of Adnan Januzaj and Juan Mata. In 18 Premier League games, Kagawa failed to score. The year before, he got six in 20. Plenty at Manchester United feel the 25-year-old should have been put to use by Moyes – but that was then, this is now. Kagawa can use the World Cup as an audition for the incoming Louis van Gaal. Not to mention, he’ll be fit, fresh and raring to be thrown into the mix.
GRADE: B-
IF HE WAS A BRAZILIAN HE’D BE CALLED: Shinjisco
RATING FOR RIO: 7/10 – Can treat the World Cup as an audition for van Gaal.
KEY STAT: In 56 appearances for Manchester United, Kagawa has scored six times. He scored 29 in 71 at Borussia Dortmund.
Touch: The 25-year-old will be hoping to use the World Cup as a reminder of what he can do
Joker: Kagawa shares a joke in training with team-mate Hotaru Yamaguchi
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