MAYA Yoshida was captain and netted for Japan as they smashed Thailand 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

The centre-back, who will now return to Saints ahead of the AFC Bournemouth match at St Mary’s on Saturday, played the full match as the Blue Samurai continued their fine form in Saitama.

Former Manchester United man Shinji Kagawa opened the scoring after just eight minutes before Leicester’s Shinji Okazaki 50th international goal made it 2-0 at half-time.

Gent striker Yaya Kubo added a third before Yoshida headed home from a corner to complete the rout.

It was the Saints man’s fourth national team goal in total and his first in a year.

He was last on target in March 2016, scoring in a 5-0 thrashing of Afghanistan.

Thailand missed from the penalty spot late, giving the 28-year-old back-to-back clean sheets as skipper.

Yoshida now faces a 6,000 mile trip back to St Mary’s from Japan as Saints prepare for busy period.