Liverpool and Takumi Minamino have received a boost with the suspension of international football across Asia.

The Liverpool Echo says the 25-year-old is yet to play for Japan since moving to Anfield after the coronavirus pandemic ensured all international football was suspended during the March and June international breaks.

The Samurai Blue are scheduled to return to action at the start of next month with home friendlies against Malaysia and Lebanon, which could hand the Liverpool forward the opportunity to add to his 22 international caps.

But FIFA and the AFC have confirmed that upcoming competitive fixtures in October and November will be postponed until 2021.

Japan had been scheduled to host Myanmar on October 8 before travelling to Mongolia on October in their latest FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers. They were due to host Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in subsequent qualifiers in November, though all four matches will now take place next year.