Argyle still in pursuit of Ienaga

Ienaga's lack of matches for Japan meant he was refused a work permit

Plymouth Argyle's Japanese investors K&K Shonan Management Corporation still hope to bring Japan international Akihiro Ienaga to the club.

The 22-year-old was refused a work permit by an FA tribunal earlier this month as he had not played enough games for Japan because of injury.

K&K vice-president George Synan, said: "We think he'll be back in the national team pretty quickly.

"Once that happens we'll go through the process again with him."

Synan added: "He's one of the best players in Japan it was just circumstances were not that good."

Ienaga suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in 2008 and has only just returned to full fitness. He has won just one cap for Japan, but according to Synan, is being touted as one of the best players in the country.

We want to get one or two players over hopefully by the beginning of next season

George Synan

"We were right on the edge with him. He's one of the top talents in Japan," said Synan.

"It was just timing for him in terms of his injury last year put him in a bad position when they picked the new national team for World Cup qualification.

And Synan added that he would like to see more Japanese players join Plymouth Argyle.

"We want to get one or two players over hopefully by the beginning of next season.

"My focus is in trying to find, locate and entice Japanese national players over here."