Nagoya Grampus forward Keiji Tamada will miss the first leg of the Asian Champions League semi-final at Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad on October 21 after pulling out of the Japan squad with a rib injury.

Tamada was hit hard in the chest during the Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on Thursday night and was taken to hospital soon after the game.

The 29-year-old had an X-ray which found no signs of fractured bones but he is expected to take up to three weeks to fully recover from the injury.

Defender Milos Bajalica, meanwhile, has been ruled out for six weeks after damaging his spine during the Asian Champions League quarter-final against Kawasaki Frontale last month.