Maya Yoshida has helped Japan qualify for the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup after a 2-0 win over Jordan.

The Saints defender again played the full 90 minutes as Japan produced their third win from three games to top Group D and progress to the knockout stages of the tournament in Australia.

Their reward for getting through is a quarter-final clash with UAE in Sydney on Friday.

If Japan were eliminated at that stage then Yoshida could be back and in contention for a return to the first team squad for the game against Swansea on February 1. If Japan make it through then it becomes high unlikely he will return before the match at QPR on February 7.