Wataru Endo in Liverpool's Last Chance Saloon as critical period awaits under Andoni Iraola

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The ECHO assesses what now for Wataru Endo at Liverpool after the Japan captain retired from international football earlier this month, just days before the World CupIf the pain at missing out on Japan's World Cup squad was enough to force Wataru Endo into international retirement, there is at least a silver lining for his Liverpool career.The Japan captain was expected to be part of the Samurai Blue squad after returning from a serious ankle injury in their final warm-up game, against Iceland on May 31.It was Endo's first outing since that season-ending injury, which he suffered for Liverpool at Sunderland in February during what was his only Premier League start of the campaign.But despite making himself available for selection once more, Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu concluded that he would rather have someone who was much closer to 100%, making the tough call to exclude skipper Endo from the World Cup contingent."As the head coach, I was the one who made the final decision," Moriyasu said last week."I'd been receiving reports from the medical staff. During the game with Iceland, he was not able to perform on the pitch for a long time."We had him try as best as he could and also had the medical staff looking after him."We discussed that throughout the World Cup, it may be difficult for him to perform for the entire period of the games, therefore I made the final decision looking at his condition."It felt really bad for me to give him such a message.

Of course, it's impossible to know exactly how he felt or know what his thoughts were, but he was very understanding and respectful and we could maintain our good conversation in a cool manner."That came after Endo broke the news of his exclusion online with an emotional post that appeared to call time on his international career.He wrote: "As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad. Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever."Of course, there's frustration at not being able to participate in this World Cup, but more than that, I'm proud of how we've grown together since the Qatar World Cup - me as captain, leading this team and turning our goal of 'winning the World Cup' into something we can say as a matter of course."The current team is truly a wonderful team.

So from here on, I'll be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans."The moment when the Japan national team wins the World Cup will surely come someday. Wataru Endo."Of course, for someone so influential for their nation to miss a competition as important as the World Cup will have been a crushing blow for the likable Endo but there is at least a way in which his career at Anfield benefits.After making 43 appearances for Jurgen Klopp in the German's final term at Anfield, including 34 starts across all competitions, Endo was used with much less frequency under Arne Slot.In the two terms under the Dutchman the former Stuttgart midfielder started just 10, only three of which came in the Premier League.That figure would have been more had his campaign not been ended so cruelly at the Stadium of Light, where he caught the eye as a makeshift right-back before his ankle break.The prospect of a new head coach in Andoni Iraola opens the door to Endo for more game-time and while it has always been generally accepted that the tenacious, defensive-minded midfielder is a useful squad option at Anfield, the lack of key men this pre-season allows the Japan star the chance to impress.Wanted by Marseille two years ago, Endo chose to stay and fight for his place under Slot and while he was not rewarded with as much game-time as what he was given under Klopp, he played a role in helping the Reds to the Premier League title.Under Slot, Endo's role was a specialist one; often arriving late on in games to make sure the opposition were denied midfield space as Liverpool looked to hold on to a lead.It was a job he performed with aplomb, most notably in slender victories at either end of the campaign at Crystal Palace and at home to Wolves.But at the age of 33, fresh off the sort of long-term injury that may have led to some contemplative thinking at times during his recovery period, does Endo feel he can make another fist at becoming a first-team regular under Iraola?Heading into the final year of his deal, this summer sees Endo in the Last Chance Saloon for his Liverpool career.And while becoming a regular might yet prove to be too lofty an ambition, he at least has a fighting chance this coming pre-season period.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!