Shin Yamada was kept on the bench on Saturday as Japan secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over China in their second outing at the East Asia Cup.
The soon-to-be Celtic signing had to settle for a watching brief this time around, with Japan opting to rotate heavily over the 90 minutes. All five available substitutes were introduced, but the Kawasaki Frontale attacker was not among them.
Mao Hosoya got the opener after just 11 minutes, pouncing on a defensive mistake to slot home. Henry Heroki Mochizuki added a second midway through the second half to wrap up the points.
Japan had started the competition with an emphatic 6-1 win against Hong Kong, where Yamada featured off the bench during the second half. However, with the squad being rotated throughout the tournament, he was one of a few who didn’t see action against China.
Next up for the Samurai Blue is a potentially decisive clash with hosts South Korea on Tuesday. Victory in that fixture would likely see them lift the regional trophy, barring any major goal difference swings.
For Yamada, it could present one last chance to make an impact before what appears to be an imminent move to Glasgow.
Reports in Japan continue to suggest that a deal has been struck between Celtic and Kawasaki Frontale, with a £1.5 million fee agreed. The 25-year-old is expected to travel to Scotland following the conclusion of the East Asia Cup to finalise personal terms and complete a medical.
While Yamada has struggled for goals this season, scoring only twice in 21 league matches he was a standout performer last year, netting 19 times. That return was only slightly behind Daizen Maeda’s best in the J-League, which stands at 23 goals.
Celtic will hope Yamada’s dip in form is only temporary, and that a move to Europe can reignite the type of performances that made him one of the J-League’s most dangerous attackers in 2024.
