WHEN Issey Nakajima-Farran agreed to play for Brisbane Roar, he assumed he would be part of the club's Asian assault.

So the Canada international was shocked to recently discover that one of the club's five imports will be excluded from Brisbane's AFC Champions League squad because of tournament restrictions on foreign player numbers.

Each Champions League club can field four foreigners, but one must be from an Asian Football Confederation nation.

In the Roar's case, that is Bahraini defender Mohamed Adnan, meaning Nakajima-Farran, German playmaker Thomas Broich, Albanian ace Besart Berisha and Brazilian speedster Henrique are battling for three spots in Brisbane's 30-man squad that must be named by Wednesday, February 1.

Nakajima-Farran has heard the whispers that his head's on the chopping block and admits he will be devastated if he is made the fall guy by Roar coach Ange Postecoglou.

"I had no idea that one foreign player was going to miss out," the former AC Horsens attacker said.

"I really thought I was going to be a part of it. That was one of the main reasons I came here."

Fitness permitting, talisman Broich and the Roar's leading goalscorer Berisha are certain Champions League selections.

Nakajima-Farran admits it would be tough on Henrique - set to return from a long-term knee injury against Sydney FC on Saturday night - if the South American was to be overlooked for Asian duty.

"Ricky (Henrique) played a big part when the club won the A-League title last year - he's a big part of the club," he said.

Postecoglou said form and fitness would count at the selection table.

Originally published as Issey in or out of AFC squad?