Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka is set to feature in Japan's upcoming World Cup qualifiers, after being named in Hajime Moriyasu's latest squad.

Japan will first host Bahrain at the Saitama Stadium on Thursday 20th March (10:35am), before taking on Saudi Arabia at the same venue a few days later on Tuesday 25 March (10:35am), with the aim of securing their eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance.

Tanaka has been a standout performer for Leeds United this season, making 36 appearances for the Whites, scoring four goals, including the recent strike against Millwall, and winning consecutive Player of the Month awards in October and November.

Japan Squad:

Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Kosei Tani (FC Machida Zelvia), Zion Suzuki (Parma Calcio 1913), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Kou Itakura (Borussia MG), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Grasshopper Club Zurich), Yukinari Sugawara (Southampton FC), Hiroki Sekine (Stade de Reims), Kota Takai (Kawasaki Frontale)

Wataru Endo (Liverpool FC), Junya Ito (Stade de Reims), Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco), Kyogo Furuhashi (Stade Rennes), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion), Daizen Maeda (Celtic FC), Reo Hatate (Celtic FC), Ritsu Doan (SC Freiburg), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Joel Chima Fujita (Sint-Truidense VV)