Wataru Endo, Liverpool midfielder and Japan captain, has expressed difficulty in leaving Merseyside for the Asian Cup just as he was beginning to hit his stride. Endo, who was signed for £16 million from Stuttgart, played the last six matches as a replacement for the injured Alexis Mac Allister, allowing him to find his footing after a challenging introduction to English football. However, the New Year’s Day victory over Newcastle was his last game for a month as he departs for Qatar to prepare for the tournament that starts next Friday. When he returns, he will have lost his place to Mac Allister, and the momentum he built up will have dissipated. Despite this setback, Endo is focused on the national team and doing his best as captain. He hopes to have good results at the Asian Cup, but that means he will have to stay longer in Qatar. Endo’s integration into the side took longer than expected due to his late arrival in mid-August, but Mac Allister’s injury and a heavy December workload allowed him to play every week, making a significant difference. Confidence is a big factor, and the manager has shown a lot of faith in him, which has helped him play better. Liverpool has recalled 20-year-old James Balagizi from his loan spell at Wigan, where he made just seven appearances.
Wataru Endo admits mixed feelings over leaving Liverpool for Asian Cup
