Kyogo and Reo Hatate must be wondering what on earth they'll have to do to force their way back into the Japan squad.
Hatate has been one of the best midfielders in the Premiership, racking up more minutes than any other midfielder - including Callum McGregor - and looks in line for a player of the year nomination. Then there's Kyogo, on 26 goals in all competitions and touching the top ten in the standings for the European Golden Boot for which Erling Haaland is running away.
Yet just as they were for the World Cup, they were overlooked - with Daizen Maeda once again the only Celtic star fancied by Hajime Moriyasu. His explanations for leaving them out have so far been wishy-washy although this time he offered a little bit more, revealing the "level" of the Scottish Premiership factored into his thinking.
He said: "I've watched all of Celtic's games and seen what they've accomplished and their presence in the team. But there's no bar to clear to be called up; it's a comprehensive decision. We think about the level of the league and various other factors when making the decision. For this squad we focused on the squad from Qatar as well as some new players. There will be other call-ups. As I said, we're trying to build strongest team possible ahead of 2026. In order to do that we're taking a wide view of how to build the team... as I think we all agree, (Reo and Kyogo) would absolutely be able to contribute to the team, but this time I wanted to try out some different players and that's why they weren't selected."
The latter part of that explanation would stack up if he hadn't also left them out of his World Cup squad just five months earlier. And as for the former, fans have been left wondering why Maeda was included if the level of domestic competition was an issue.
The decision to leave them out was branded "insane" by US-based Japanese journalist Kenta Hagiwara while Celtic fans have been equally perplexed. They wouldn't have expected Yuki Kobayashi or Tomoki Iwata to get the call considering their relative lack of action since their January moves, but Hatate and Kyogo looked shoo-ins and will understandably feel aggrieved. But who is it that's keeping them out?
In midfield, Moriyasu's claim does seem to hold some weight. Of the nine midfielders he selected, six play in one of the 'big five' European leagues, while Hidemasa Morita is a regular for Sporting CP in Portugal. But he's also picked Ao Tanaka who plays in the German second tier with Fortuna Dusseldorf and handed a first cap to LASK's Keito Nakamura - albeit a player enjoying a stunning season in Austria.
Going forward, Maeda seems to be a favourite for Moriyasu who sees the same combative and dynamic qualities in him that Postecoglou does at Celtic. Domestic-based Shuto Machino has three goals in his five caps, but didn't play a minute at the World Cup, while Yokohama F. Marinos striker Takuma Nishimura hasn't been picked for a squad in nearly a year and has one goal in four J-League games this season.
Ayase Ueda of Brugge is in good form with 14 goals this season but hasn't scored in his 12 caps while Takuma Asano has just two all season for Bochum in the Bundesliga. Kyogo, by contrast, has 13 goals in 15 games since the season resumed after the World Cup and while there may be reservations over his ability to impact games, it's understandable why Japanese football fans are starting to question Moriyasu's reluctance to call him up.
Japan midfielders: Wataru Endo (Stuttgart, Bundesliga), Junya Ito (Reims, Ligue 1), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP, Portuguese Primeira Liga), Daichi Kamada (Frankfurt, Bundesliga), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton, Premier League), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg, Bundesliga), Ao Tanaka (Fortuna Dusseldorf, 2. Bundesliga), Keito Nakamura (LASK, Austrian Bundesliga), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad, La Liga)
Japan forwards: Daizen Maeda (Celtic, Scottish Premiership), Ayase Ueda (Brugge, Belgian Pro League), Shuto Machino (Shonan Belmare, J-League), Takuma Nishimura (Yokohama F. Marinos, J-League), Takuma Asano (Vfl Bochum, Bundesliga)
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