Yokohama F. Marinos confirmed last Sunday that captain and star midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura will need three weeks to recover from a right thigh muscle injury.

The 36-year-old had pulled up during training on Friday, a day before F.Marinos traveled to play Montedio Yamagata and lost 1-0 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League’s ninth round.

News of the two-time J.League Most Valuable Player’s injury will come as a further blow, given he already returned to action faster than expected after undergoing ankle surgery in February.

Nakamura has only managed three appearances so far this season, all when coming off the bench.