Kawasaki Frontale defender Tatsuki Nara will require four months to recover from a fractured left tibia, the club has announced.
The 22-year-old sustained the injury on Saturday during his team’s win over Vissel Kobe in the 12th round of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League First Stage.
Nara was expected by many to represent Japan at the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics.
The winter arrival from Consadole Sapporo has been a key part in Frontale’s rise to the top of the table, with the centre-back starting every match of the campaign so far.