Vissel Kobe are set to face the rest of the season without three key squad members after announcing their injuries this week, with Keijiro Ogawa a particular concern.

The striker, who returned from his own injuries in August, suffered a fractured right metatarsal.

Ogawa’s injury sustained against Urawa Reds in the YBC Levain Cup will require three months of recuperation.

Meanwhile, defender Yudai Tanaka will be out for eight weeks after having torn his left hamstring on August 27, also against the Reds in a league clash.

Veteran Hideo Tanaka tore a ligament in his left knee in training on the same day and will require half a year to recover, putting him at risk of missing the start of next season.