Manchester United playmaker, Shinji Kagawa has been withdrawn from the Japan squad to face Iraq after experiencing a twinge in his lower back. The Independent reports.

Coach Alberto Zaccheroni decided not to risk Kagawa for the match, and comes after he gave the player a public telling-off for showboating in the unconvincing 1-0 win over United Arab Emirates.

He was hauled off by Zaccheroni at half-time as an attempted step-over saw the Japanese international land flat on his back.

It remains unclear as to how serious the injury is and whether it will rule the player out of action.

Although it will worry Sir Alex Ferguson, especially as Kagawa has had such an impressive start to his career at United, slotting in seamlessly into the side and scoring on his home debut against Fulham.

Despite the injury to Wayne Rooney and a potential lay-off for Kagawa, United are well covered in the forward department, as Ferguson has Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez all available when they face Wigan at Old Trafford this Saturday.