Maya Yoshida is expected to be given extra time off to recover before pre-season training at Saints this summer as he finds himself in the midst of potentially five years without a proper break from football.

The Saints and Japan centre half has barely had a breather for approaching three years of non-stop football, and that is likely to continue for another two years at least.

On the back of an impressive debut season for Saints in the Premier League, Yoshida has been away playing World Cup qualifiers for his country, securing Japan’s place in the 2014 tournament with a draw against Australia before a dead rubber against Iraq.

He now heads straight out to Brazil to take part in the Confederations Cup.

He will be away until at least June 22, but might not return until after the start of pre-season training at Saints if Japan make it to the final stages.

Gaston Ramirez, who is facing up to three years without a significant break, is representing Uruguay in the Confederations Cup.

As impressive as Ramirez’s efforts are though, they pale in comparison to Yoshida’s.

Following his big move to Dutch side VV Venlo in 2010, and his international debut at the start of that year, he has been on the go non-stop, playing regularly and travelling huge distances.

After a first season with Venlo in 2010/11, Yoshida took part in the summer Kirin Cup.

Following another full season with Venlo in 2011/12, which attracted the attention of Saints, he went away in the summer of 2012 firstly for a series of World Cup qualifiers, and then to play as an overage player for Japan at the London Olympics.

Shortly afterwards he was joining up at Saints and establishing himself as a Premier League footballer, all the while continuing to make huge distance trips to the likes of Japan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Korea DPR, for international fixtures.

This summer while his teammates enjoy the sun in various relaxing tropical climates, Yoshida has the joys of games against Iraq in Doha and another major international tournament.

With Saints due back for pre-season at the very start of July, Yoshida, as well as Ramirez, is expected to be given a couple of week’s grace to at least put his feet up for a few days before launching into another full on Premier League campaign.

With Japan having qualified for next summer’s World Cup though, Yoshida looks likely to face the same issues next summer, playing right through and into yet another season of domestic football.