Japan's hotshot striker Shinji Okazaki wants to hurt the Lions
Japan's star striker Okazaki says he won't rest easy unless he scores against Singapore
With 47 goals from 96 caps, Shinji Okazaki is his nation's third most prolific goalscorer.
He is also Japan's all-time top scorer in the Bundesliga with 37 goals, has scored in back-to-back World Cups, and grabbed the winner in his country's only win over two-time world champions Argentina in 2010.
Okazaki was also crowned the top international marksman in the world in 2009, after firing in 15 goals in 16 games for his country.
Singapore be warned - what the Leicester City striker wants this week is a goal in tonight's World Cup/Asian Cup Group E qualifier at the National Stadium.
Speaking in Japanese after yesterday's training session at the stadium, the 29-year-old said: "I want to score the winner because that is my job as a striker.
"I failed to score against Singapore the last time and I will not rest until I score.
"This time, I want to score early because it is very important for our team to settle down and win."
It is clear that the 0-0 in Saitama in June still rankles the Japanese, who could not find a way past an inspired Izwan Mahbud and a resolute Singapore side.
The Lions remain the only team to prevent the Samurai Blue from scoring this year.
A lot has happened in the four months since that shock draw, with the Japanese team posting three straight wins in the qualifiers, firing in 12 goals, three of which were scored by Okazaki.
Vahid Halilhodzic's men are red-hot favourites to win comfortably tonight and eventually top Group E.
Okazaki swopped the Bundesliga for the English Premier League when he joined the Foxes from Mainz in the close season.
REMARKABLE RUN
While he has just one goal in the English Premier League - the opener in the 2-1 win at West Ham in August - Claudio Ranieri has played Okazaki in all but one of their league matches so far as Leicester continue their remarkable run, sitting just one point behind the EPL frontrunners Manchester City and Arsenal.
"It has been a miracle, I think," he said.
"I was playing for Mainz last season and when I looked at the Premier League table, Leicester were at the bottom.
"Then they did very well to survive.
"This has been a very good start and I am very happy.
"But whether or not I have become a better player after joining the EPL, I can say only after I played a full season."
After playing behind teammate and EPL topscorer Jamie Vardy at Leicester, Okazaki is relishing the opportunity to lead the line for Japan and show what he has learnt.
He said: "Jamie is the surprise of the Premier League. He is very fast and he is always putting the opposition under pressure.
"Sometimes we play a long ball and Jamie's response is very fast.
"I also played like Jamie at Mainz, very fast and near the goal, and sometimes I scored.
"But Jamie is faster and I am the second striker now and he is up top.
"I look for Jamie and he looks for me and we are a good combination.
"It is better for me playing as the second striker for Leicester and but I also welcome the challenge of having seven forwards called up for the national team.
"I hope to score more goals, my style is to keep going and going, and maybe if there is a good cross I can get into the box and score.
"That is what I want to do against Singapore."
FUN FACT
15: Shinji Okazaki was crowned top international marksman in the world in 2009, after firing in 15 goals in 16 games for Japan.
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