Shinji Kagawa is becoming quickly outcast at Old Trafford…
Manchester United’s Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa is unlikely to play for David Moyes’ Red Devils outfit until at least October, claims ESPN writer Richard Jolly.
The 24-year-old midfielder is neither injured nor unfit, but the combination of United and Japan’s scheduling means the talented Kagawa is unlikely to represent his club until next month.
Kagawa has been on the pitch for only eight minutes this season, and there have been cries from United fans that Moyes should be utilising the man they spent £16m on from Borussia Dortmund last summer much more.
The Dortmund fans however, have been even more vocal in their support of the player, and have started a #FreeShinji Twitter campaign, urging the Bundesliga side to buy the Japanese star back in the January transfer window…
Sorry Shinji, January is right around the corner. Hang in there. #FreeShinji pic.twitter.com/kyUVyJ1xTq
— Cristian Nyari (@Cnyari) September 3, 2013
United turned down Dortmund’s advances at the end of the summer transfer window, and Moyes has publicly declared his admiration for the player, but even with favoured no.10 Wayne Rooney out injured, Kagawa couldn’t get on the pitch against Liverpool.
Kagawa was given extra-time off in the summer due to his exploits in the Confederations Cup, and missed the Premier League opener because he had travelled to Japan for a game against Uruguay only three days earlier.
Jolly writes:
“The problem for Kagawa is that the schedule offers little respite and few chances for Moyes, a novice to the art of squad rotation after his years at Everton, to alternate. September brings meetings with Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester City and Liverpool. Before then the Old Trafford clash with Crystal Palace, when Rooney should still be missing, appears the ideal game to stake his case: except it comes four days after Japan host Ghana. If Kagawa is presumed too jetlagged, the current impasse could extend towards October.”
With Moyes even choosing the forgotten Nani from the bench ahead of Kagawa in United’s last league game, the Japanese’s chances of flourishing in England are diminishing by the day.
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