Forward Daizen Maeda and on-loan keeper Henry Gray won international caps this lunchtime, the latter making his international debut.

Maeda started and played the first 63 minutes as Japan beat Uruguay 3-1 in their opening game at the Kirin Cup in Rifu. The former Celtic man’s 31st Japanese cap was the first won by a player with Town.

Japan next take part in the four-team Kirin Cup, facing Ecuador in their first match on Thursday 1st October, then New Zealand or Panama in either the final or third-place play-off on Monday 5th October.

Speaking ahead of the game, Maeda discussed how he was finding life in the Premier League.

“I'm playing at an intensity I've never experienced before. First of all, it's important to get used to it,” he told Japanese media.

“In Scotland, my strengths were speed and high pressing, but the intensity is completely different, so I’m trying to figure out how to bring out my strengths in this environment.”

He added: “As a player, it’s a blessing to be able to play against teams that everyone knows in every match, and although it’s tough during the game, there’s a joy in playing against such teams.

“Of course, because the level is so high, things don’t always go well. It’s tough during the matches, but there’s a certain enjoyment in being able to play against such teams.

“I've been saying I wanted to go [to the Premier League], so first of all, I want to enjoy it, and right now I want to focus on the national team.”

Elsewhere, keeper Gray, who is on loan at Wellington Phoenix, came on as a half-time as the All Whites drew 2-2 with Palestine in a friendly in Chongqing to pick up his first cap, keeping a clean sheet for the 45 minutes he was on the field with all the game’s goals having come before the break.

New Zealand play Panama in their first Kirin Cup match on Thursday 1st October then either Ecuador or Japan in the final or third-place play-off four days later.

The 21-year-old is contracted to the Blues until the summer of 2028 having extended his deal prior to making his loan return to the Phoenix, one of his previous clubs.

Photo: MATSUO.K/AFLO SPORT via Reuters Connect