Will ankle injury deprive 2024 Asian Cup of one of its biggest stars?

If one were to conduct a poll on the most feared winger in the Premier League over the past two seasons, Kaoru Mitoma's name would likely be on the lips of many fans. 

Since joining Brighton from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale for a bargain price of less than $3 million in 2021, Mitoma has made quite an impact. He has notched an impressive 13 goals and 14 assists, surpassing former Leicester City striker Shinji Kagawa for the record of most goals scored in a single English top-flight season by a Japanese player.

What truly sets Mitoma apart from other wingers is his exceptional footwork. According to Japanese media outlets, the 26-year-old even wrote a thesis on the art of running at defenders with the ball during his university days. His sensational dribbling skills have left illustrious defenders like Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester City's Kyle Walker bamboozled.

However, Mitoma's strengths extend beyond his trickery and pace on the flanks. Despite his small stature, he is remarkably adept in the air, as evidenced by a couple of headed goals. Additionally, he displays commendable discipline off the ball, tirelessly tracking back to assist his team in defending.

It comes as no surprise that Brighton secured Mitoma's services for the long term, convincing him to sign a new five-year contract in October. The club expressed their delight, stating, "Ensuring that a player of Kaoru's quality will remain with us for the long term is fantastic news. Kaoru adapted to the Premier League last season and has quickly become one of our most important players."

Unfortunately, just when things were going so swimmingly for Mitoma, he suffered an ankle injury during Brighton's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last week. Subsequent medical evaluations have revealed that the injury is more severe than initially anticipated.

"Tomorrow, we're facing a situation where we have roughly 10 injured players, or perhaps eight, but the other two won't be fit enough to start the game," said Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi on the eve of his team's upcoming home match against Tottenham on Thursday. "Regrettably, Mitoma is among those players. We've unfortunately lost him for approximately six weeks, ranging from four to six weeks." 

This announcement casts significant doubt on Mitoma's availability for the 2024 Asian Cup in Qatar, set to kick off on January 12. It could prove to be a major blow for Japan, who have been drawn in Group D alongside Indonesia, Iraq and Vietnam, with their sights firmly set on claiming the title. 

Furthermore, this setback presents a daunting challenge for the Asian Cup organizers, who heavily rely on established players like Mitoma to captivate audiences and generate interest during the bustling European season. He will be sorely missed.