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Muto gets Asian Cup call
Written by Dan King
Yoshinori Muto has been called up to the Japan squad for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
The Newcastle forward was not named in Hajime Moriyasu's initial 23-man squad, but has now been called up for the tournament, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates from 5th January to 1st February 2019.
He will join up with his international colleagues after the Magpies' home game against Manchester United on Wednesday, 2nd January and could miss four league games as well as the Emirates FA Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers.
The 26-year-old - who joined Newcastle from Mainz 05 in the summer after playing in the 2018 World Cup finals for his country - has scored once in 11 appearances (five starts) so far for Rafa Benítez's side.
Japan have won the Asian Cup a record four times. Muto's Magpies team-mate Ki Sung-yueng will represent South Korea in the competition. He was captain of the squad which finished as runners up to Australia in 2015.