SAINTS striker Tadanari Lee has been left out of the Japan squad for next week’s friendly against Iceland.

Coach Alberto Zaccheroni has selected an experimental group of only J.League players for the game in Osaka on Friday.

That means Europe-based stars such as Saints’ new signing Lee have been given a rest.

Zaccheroni is instead intending to use the match as a chance to look at some of Japan’s fringe players.

However, he could still call on the likes of Lee for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan, in Toyota, on Wednesday, February 29.

How Japan's decision affects Saints - see today's Daily Echo.