Higashiguchi Injury Blow

The team announced their regular GK Masaaki Higashiguchi was sidelined for eight month by a torn anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee accmpanied with medical collateral ligament injury.The 26 year old GK injured in the training game aganist thespa Kusatsu on Saturday.

The injury is a massive blow for the team who has been in releagation battle.
A veteran GK Hideaki Ozawa who currently played in the Emperor's cup third round last week will play a regular role for the rest of the season.

Two Injury Blows for Niigata

Albirex Niigata revealed they lose two players by serious injuries for sevral months.
　Left back Kim Jinsu injured his the medial meniscus of his right knee in the training match against a university club in 24th of this month and will be out for two months. He already came back to South Korea to get treatment.
　The South Korean DF signed a contract with Niigata this season and got a regular from the start. But he currently lose his position under a new manager Yanagishita.

　On the other hand, Taisuke Nakamura is sidelined for three months due to stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot which is the same injury as he suffered in February.  The 22 year old MF joined from Kyoto this season but he haven't played a game yet because of a late start due to the injury.

Uchida Out for the Season

Albirex Niigata annouced thier veteran right back Jun Uchida was sidelined for eight month due to injuries of anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and lateral meniscus of his right knee, which he ends his season.

The 34 year old had injured in the Saturday's dreadful 1-6 defeat against Jubilo Iwata.

Murakami will take right back role. He has recently been in the bench at the start.
MF Mikado, Fujita and Kikuchi can play as his backup although they are not professional for the position.

Anyway this injury is massive blow for the team recently shaken by exit of the manager and the head coach.

Kurokawa Injury Blow

Albirex annouced their GK suffered meniscus injury of his left knee in the league opener against Kawasaki and now he is sidelined for three weeks. Because Niigata's first GK Higashiguchi is said to come back in May from the anterior cruciate ligament tear, the 38 year-old Ozawa has taken the position since the second game of the league.

Injury Blow for Niigata

 Albirex Niigata announced that Taisuke Nakamura loaned from Kyoto this season is sidelined for three months after he had taken an operation on stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot in 8th Feb.. He injured it during training session in 1st Feb.

 Now this means Kim Jinsu will take a Kurosaki's first choice to left defender and play as an Asian player, which make Kim Youngeun and Alan Mineiro compete the one place left for foreign players as Lopes and Michel will play for a first team judging from experiences in Japan.

Higashiguchi & Watanabe Condition Update

Now Two Goal keepers Higashiguchi and Watanabe have been sidelined for months.
Here come good news on their condition.

The team's first choice GK Higashiguchi who has suffered torn anterior cruciate knee ligament on his right leg since the end of August recovered to start rehabilitation.
(However he is said to miss the next season's opener.)

On the other hand, the rookie GK Watanabe came back to the team trainning partially from dislocation of the left shoulder joint which he also injured on August.

Higashiguchi Out for the Season

Albirex annouced Masaaki Higashiguchi will be sidelined for eight months due to right anterior cruciate ligament injury. He injured his right knee in last Sunday's fun event "Albirex Niigata Summer festa". His absence means there is only one GK, Ozawa available now. In this emergent situation, the team decided to register two youth GK Matsui(18) and Honda(16) to the top team.

Kurosaki Injury Blow

Albirex revealed Takaya Kurokawa underwent surgery today for right Achilles tendon which he suffered in the training matach against Kawasaki on Sunday.The 29 year old GK was diagnosed to be sidelined for five to six month. There are two Goal keepers remaining in the squad. Regular Higashiguchi and Rookie GK Watanabe who just promoted from youth team this season. The team may recruit another GK like last season when they contracted with amature GK from their affiliate team, Japan Soccer College because they lost two GKs Kurokawa and Takagi at that time.

Masuda Suffer Irregular Heartbeat?

Albirex Niigata revealed rookie Shigeto Masuda was diagnosed as having symptom of an irregular heartbeat in the medical check in 20th January. The 18 year old is today selected for High school all star team who meet J league U-18 select team next weekend. But the club said to decide whether Masuda play it or not after checking the result of farther examination which is being executed in the hospital in Niigata city.

Paulo Back

According to Niigata Nipo, Joao Paulo came back to the full trainning session.
The 25 year old Brazillian has been away from team trainning for one and half month due to pubic pain.