SAINTS loanee Takumi Minamino set Japan on their way to a thumping 14-0 win over Mongolia in their latest World Cup qualifier.

Minamino, currently at St Mary's from Liverpool until the end of the season, struck in the 13th minute to get the ball rolling against the Blue Wolves.

Werder Bremen striker Yuya Osako helped himself to a hat-trick with Daichi Kamada, Hidemasa Morita, Junya Ito, Kyogo Furuhashi and Sho Inagaki also getting in on the act before former Arsenal frontman Takuma Asano rounded off the resounding victory.

Minamino was replaced with 20 minutes remaining with the score at 7-0 in Chiba.

Japan, captained by former Saints star Maya Yoshida, sit top of their Asian qualification group for the 2022 World Cup with five wins from five, scoring 27 goals and conceding none.